Two Oil Tankers Under U.S. Sanctions Sailing Toward Russia Through English Channel

Two oil tankers subject to U.S. sanctions are sailing toward Russia through the English Channel south of the United Kingdom, according to British media reports on January 8 (local time).

The Marinera (Bella 1) ship seized in the North Atlantic with cooperation from the United Kingdom. Photo by Yonhap News

The two tankers crossed the English Channel on January 8, the day after the United States, with cooperation from the United Kingdom, seized the Marinera ship in the North Atlantic on January 7.

According to the maritime information website Lloyd's List, the tanker has repeatedly changed its name from Tia to Tiavan and Arkusat. It departed from T?rkiye and is scheduled to arrive in the Gulf of Finland, near Russia, on January 13.

The tanker was added to the U.S. sanctions list under the name Tia after transporting Venezuelan crude oil in 2024. The Times reported that the vessel also sailed through the English Channel in October and December last year, carrying 730,000 barrels of Russian crude oil.

The Aria, registered under the flag of Barbados, is linked to a major Russian shipping company and is also subject to U.S. sanctions. Records show it passed between Plymouth and Jersey Island in the United Kingdom on the evening of January 8. The vessel is heading to the port of Ust-Luga in the Russian Baltic Sea.

When asked whether the Ministry of Defence was aware of sanctioned vessels sailing through the English Channel, a spokesperson declined to comment, stating, "Defence Secretary John Healey told Parliament on January 7 that deterring, disrupting, and weakening Russia's shadow fleet is our government's top priority."