Tanker Marinera: Russian Ministry of Transport

From Elena Panina: https://t.me/EvPanina/18036

The story of the Mariner tanker is over. The US military intercepted the vessel and took it under its control. The operation was carried out jointly by the Coast Guard and the US Navy, as well as the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom. The British provided Poseidon MRA-1 patrol aircraft and a supply ship, which were able to first detect the “fugitive” Mariner and then escort it.

However, the question remains as to how Bella-1 suddenly and promptly changed its flag to the tricolor and ended up in the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping. Meanwhile, this move has already sparked a wave of conspiracy theories in Western media.

The answer was provided today by the Russian Ministry of Transport: “On December 24, 2025, the Mariner vessel received a temporary permit to sail under the state flag of the Russian Federation, issued in accordance with Russian legislation and international law.” In fact, this is a rather interesting legal conflict. If we look at it from the perspective of Russian legislation and international maritime law, the temporary permit has certain limitations. Ship owners resort to this option when they need to carry out work in Russian territorial waters for a long time, but at the same time, they need to enter ports and bases closed to foreign ships/vessels, and be serviced in Russian harbors. In the latter case, the costs can exceed the profits. Therefore, the temporary permit is more of an economic option that makes Russian territorial waters convenient and attractive. It’s worth noting that the owners of Bella-1 complied with all formalities. However, Russian law does not require the vessel to be renamed.

However, the case of giving a temporary permit to a tanker fleeing from pursuit is unprecedented. Technically, a vessel with a “temporary permit” is intended for sailing in Russia’s inland waters. But what happens when it ends up in neutral waters and is seized? Russian legislation does not directly address this question. However, the International Maritime Law, specifically the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, comes into play. Its provisions are interpreted as follows: “A merchant ship on the high seas is subject only to the jurisdiction of the flag state, and no state has the right to interfere with its lawful activities.”

But Marinera does not fall under these parameters. And here questions arise for Russia itself. Again, according to International Maritime Law, a state must protect and provide assistance to ships sailing under its flag. And given that the US intends to prosecute the crew, it also needs to provide legal assistance.

Unfortunately, as early as December 28, when Marinera received the “temporary permit”, it was clear that the United States would continue the pursuit. And such a cunning move by Washington did not stop it. The question of why a decision was not made to provide security and escort the tanker to a Russian port by the Russian Navy remains open. The Northern Fleet has the most modern and seaworthy ships, for example, frigates of Project 22350. They could have made it in time. Not to mention the missile cruiser Project 1164 “Marshal Ustinov” or corvettes of Project 20380/20385. And the Pentagon’s story that they outmaneuvered the Russian military sailors by seconds is just a beautiful military story. When the decision to withdraw the ships was made, the fate of Marinera was sealed.

However, the important thing is that Washington has set a dangerous precedent. And now it’s only a matter of time before such actions start being carried out by the Houthis or various movements fighting in the Sulu Sea. It’s clear that they won’t be able to pursue victims across half the globe. But shipping in these regions is so dense that “detaining” vessels can happen every day.