U.S. Coast Guard pursues oil tanker Bella 1, which flew a Russian flag to evade sanctions, after it disabled its transponder and fled since December 17.

The crew of the oil tanker Bella 1, which was previously connected to sanctioned oil shipments, painted a Russian flag on the ship in an apparent attempt to claim protection, prompting the U.S. Coast Guard to pursue the ship. The ship is suspected of being part of a "ghost fleet" that circumvents U.S. sanctions on Iran and Venezuela. Since December 17, it has disabled its transponder and escaped capture. Although a seizure warrant has been issued and U.S. officials claim the flag change does not confer immunity, boarding is still not attempted because of the risks. The crew is from Russia, India, and Ukraine, and the ship is sailing toward Greenland or Iceland without any cargo. In the midst of growing tensions over oil shipments and regional security, the incident reflects larger U.S. efforts to enforce sanctions and counter foreign influence in maritime trade.