Navy destroyers helped the US catch a Russian-flagged oil tanker on the run in the Atlantic

"Bella 1, which has been described by the Trump administration as a "dark fleet" tanker operating in violation of sanctions, evaded a US naval blockade of sanctioned vessels near Venezuela last month and avoided attempts by the American military to board the vessel. The tanker, sailing under the flag of Guyana, then fled north into the Atlantic, reflagged as a Russian vessel, and changed its name to the Marinera. On the run, the crew even painted the country's tricolor on the hull."

"The destroyers' involvement in the mission, which also included the Coast Guard and special operations forces, highlights the scale of the US military's efforts to capture the oil tanker, on the run since it evaded a naval blockade. Flight-tracking data showed various aircraft were airborne either shortly before or during the operation. The UK government said it supported the operation with a tanker and Royal Air Force surveillance aircraft. A NATO official told Business Insider that the alliance's standing naval forces were not involved."

Two US Navy Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, USS Bulkeley and USS Paul Ignatius, supported operations to seize a runaway oil tanker in the North Atlantic after a weekslong chase. The operation included the Coast Guard, special operations forces, and various aircraft; the UK provided a tanker and RAF surveillance aircraft. The tanker, initially called Bella 1 and sailing under Guyana's flag, evaded a US naval blockade near Venezuela, then fled north, reflagged as Russian and renamed Marinera, with the crew painting a tricolor on the hull. A defense official declined to provide further operational details, citing operational security. A NATO official said alliance standing naval forces were not involved.

Read at Business Insider