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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Tural Ahmedzade, Harvey Symons, Oliver Holmes and Dan Sabbagh

Reflagged by Russia, spied on by UK, seized by US: why so much interest in a rusty tanker in the Atlantic?

The tanker viewed from a smaller boat
An undated handout photo of the Marinera. Photograph: US European Command/AFP/Getty Images

A massive, rusty crude oil tanker floating north through the Atlantic has become the centre of global interest after it was followed for days and eventually seized by US forces while Russia’s military rushed towards it.

Despite not carrying any oil, the 300-metre-long ship is clearly of value. Theories for why range from speculation that high-value Russian weapons are hidden in the hull, to the ship’s potential to become a symbolic trophy in a transatlantic power struggle between Washington and Moscow.

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