US set to move tanker captain from UK waters 'imminently', court hears

The United States seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker called the Marinera near Iceland on January 7th and brought it to Scottish waters off the Moray coast, accusing the vessel of violating sanctions by transporting oil for Venezuela, Russia, and Iran. In an emergency court hearing, the wife of the Georgian captain sought to prevent US authorities from removing her husband and the first officer from Scottish jurisdiction, arguing they should be protected by Scottish courts and human rights law, but the judge ruled he lacked authority to block a foreign government's actions under the State Immunity Act. The incident has sparked a diplomatic dispute involving Russia, which demands the crew's return, and created tensions between the Scottish and UK governments over lack of communication about the operation.