Russian flags proliferate over shadow fleet of oil tankers

cargo and avoid detection.

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Onterception of Bella 1 underscores ties linking Venezuela's state-run oil company, PdVSA, with Russia.

(REUTER)

Tactics include changing vessel names and falsifying coordinates.Until recently, most of this shadow fleet sailed under obscure colors, such as the flag of Gabon, or established flags of convenience, such as Liberia's. Some had bogus flags from countries such as East Timor and Malawi.

Shipping executives and lawyers said that whoever controls the newly Russianflagged tankers had hoped the U.S. wouldn't dare touch ships that Moscow counts as its own.

In the case of Bella 1, the Foreign Ministry in Moscow said the tanker received permission to fly Russia's flag in late December, that this was in keeping with international and Russian laws and that it was sailing toward Russia.