Steven McKenzieHighlands and Islands reporter
Peter Jolly/NorthpixAn oil tanker seized by the US in the North Atlantic last week has been spotted in Scotland’s Moray Firth.
The US has accused the Marinera of breaking its sanctions by carrying oil for Venezuela, Russia and Iran.
The ship, previously known as Bella 1, was boarded while south of Iceland in an operation supported by British armed forces.
Photographs taken on Tuesday show the Marinera in the firth – a sheltered area of sea between the east Highland coast and the coasts of Moray and Aberdeenshire – along with tugs and a US Coast Guard ship.
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) and US Department of War have been contacted for comment.
It is understood US military aircraft landed at small civilian airports in Wick in Caithness and Benbecula in the Western Isles during the operation on 7 January.
The MoD did confirm the Royal Navy tanker RFA Tideforce and RAF surveillance aircraft supported American personnel.
The MoD said the Marinera was on its way to Russia and it backed the action against “sanction busting” activity by “shadow fleets” which it said was in compliance with international law.
