Seized oil tanker leaving Scotland to head across Atlantic

A Russian-flagged oil tanker which was seized in the north Atlantic has started its journey to the United States after being berthed in Scottish waters, BBC Scotland News has learned.

American authorities took control of the Marinera on 7 January, south of Iceland, before escorting it to Scotland's Moray coast.

It has been there since - but has now been escorted into the North Sea.

It is understood Marinera - previously called Bella 1 - is being towed from Scotland to the English Channel, and will then head across the Atlantic Ocean.

The US accused the Marinera of breaking its sanctions by carrying oil for Venezuela, Russia and Iran.

The UK government backed the operation to seize the tanker, saying it was a lawful action against a vessel involved in breaking sanctions.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) provided operational support and US planes used UK airfields, including some in Scotland.

But the Russian government denounced the seizure, demanding that the US treat Russian nationals aboard properly and allow them to return to Russia quickly.

US administration sources later said the tanker would be subject to a judicial forfeiture process when it arrived in the US.

It is understood US military aircraft landed at small civilian airports in Wick, Caithness, and Benbecula in the Western Isles during the operation on 7 January.

The MoD confirmed at the time that the Royal Navy tanker RFA Tideforce and RAF surveillance aircraft were supporting American personnel and that "deterring, disrupting and degrading" Russia's "shadow fleet" was a priority.

The Marinera has been in the firth off Burghead, a village on the Moray coast.

The Moray Firth is a sheltered area of sea between the east Highland coast and the coasts of Moray and Aberdeenshire.