An oil tanker seized in the North Atlantic last week by the United States has been sighted in Moray Firth in Scotland.
The ship, previously known as Bella 1, was boarded while south of Iceland in an operation supported by British armed forces.
Images released on Tuesday showed the vessel, now known as Marinera, positioned in the firth between the east Highland coastline and the shores of Moray and Aberdeenshire, alongside tugboats and a US Coast Guard ship.
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The United States has accused Marinera of violating sanctions by transporting oil linked to Venezuela, Russia, and Iran.
Officials from the U.S. Department of War, which coordinated the operation to seize the ship, is yet to comment at the time of reporting.
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Meanwhile, the UK Ministry of Defence has said that dealing with Russia’s “shadow fleet” remains a key priority.
The ministry added that its efforts are aimed at deterring, disrupting, and limiting the activities of the fleet.
A spokesperson said: “Alongside our allies, we are stepping up our response to shadow vessels – and we will continue to do so.
“We will not comment on specific operational planning or give a running commentary on live maritime activity.”
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