Russian Owner Challenges U.S. Sale of Notorious Tanker Bella 1 as Vessel Reaches Scrappers
Burevestmarin, a Russian company, is challenging the United States' forfeiture and sale of the crude oil tanker Bella 1 (also known as Marinera), which has reportedly arrived at Chattogram, Bangladesh, for scrapping under the name Era. Lawyers for Burevestmarin, claiming to have acquired the vessel on December 17, 2025, filed urgent court documents in the U.S. on November 4. They argue that the U.S. sale was "economically irrational" and conducted "behind closed doors." The Russian company asserts that the U.S. sold the tanker to GMS, a cash buyer, which then resold it to a Bangladeshi recycler for over $20.7 million on October 14, contradicting U.S. statements that GMS was not authorized to transfer ownership and would retain the vessel during scrapping. The U.S. Coast Guard famously chased and seized the tanker across the Atlantic in late 2025 and early 2026, taking it to Scotland.
