BarentsNews.com

On September 21, the Norwegian trawler “?yasher” got under the fire of Russian warships in the Barents Sea, reported the vessel’s captain Lars Endersen.

The trawler was due to Murmansk harbour to discharge a fresh saithe cargo destined for the Murmansk Fish Processing Plant. However, it was stopped at the entry to Kola Bay by Russian Northern Navy ships participating in sea exercises. Mr Endersen asserted that, despite the permission he had to enter the harbour regardless of the navy drills, one of the Russian warships fired a warning shot in front of the trawler’s bow in order to make the vessel change the course.

At the same time, the Northern Navy’s PR chief Vladimir Navrotsky denied this information, saying there was no shooting at the vessel, even though the Norwegian captain didn’t pay due attention to the previously sent notification on holding military exercises, and entered the prohibited area. Navrotsky declared that the Russian ships tried to warn the Norwegian vessel by radio first, and then signal flags were hoisted. But with the trawler proceeding in the same direction, Russians had to launch red signal sky-rockets. After that, the vessel turned back to return to Norway.

Due to the above incident, the Murmansk Fish Processing Plant was idle on Monday, September 23. The enterprise incurred losses of 1.5 million roubles (appr. USD 48 700), causing General Director Mikhail Zub’s blistering attack on the navy commanders.

Mr Zub sees such actions as threatening his developing cooperation with foreign partners.