US Detains Ukrainian Seafarer from Seized Tanker Marinera
The United States has detained one Ukrainian crewmember from the oil tanker Marinera, formerly known as Bella1, following the vessel’s seizure in the North Atlantic, The Maritime Telegraph reports.
The detention comes after U.S. federal authorities seized the Russian-flagged tanker on 7 January under a court order linked to sanctions enforcement. At the time of interception, the vessel was transporting crude oil from Venezuela to Russia and carried a crew of 28 seafarers from Ukraine, Russia, Georgia and India.
According to the Embassy of Ukraine in the United States, 17 Ukrainian nationals were aboard the tanker. Sixteen of them have since disembarked and returned to the United Kingdom, where the vessel had previously been escorted. One Ukrainian seafarer remains in U.S. custody and is being transferred to American territory for further legal procedures.
Ukrainian diplomats stated that U.S. authorities will officially notify the embassy once the detained crewmember arrives in the United States. This will allow consular representatives to provide legal oversight and necessary assistance. The embassy confirmed it remains in contact with relevant U.S. agencies regarding the case.
The seizure of MV Marinera underscores ongoing U.S. efforts to enforce sanctions through maritime controls, while raising concerns about the legal exposure of multinational crews working aboard vessels caught in such actions.
