– Ships are obliged to follow navigation messages, says Ståle Sveinungsen at the Coastal Administration. In mid-September, a Russian warship would not accept that the fishing boat “MS Ragnhild Kristine” should fish in the area where the Russian and Chinese navies held joint exercises. The warship fired a warning shot at the fishing boat, then the boat was escorted west. This happened even though the military exercise in the fishing field had been announced in advance. Coxswain Øystein Orten had not realized that. – A navigation warning went out on VHF channel 16 from the Coast Guard. There are messages all the time that apply to the entire Norwegian coast. We didn’t get that. Coxswain Øystein Orten (left) and twin brother Torstein in front of “MS Ragnhild Kristine”, which had a confrontation with the Russian navy in mid-September. Photo: Privat Must keep up to date Ståle Sveinungsen, maritime traffic center manager at Vardø maritime traffic centre, says that Russia announced two exercises in September on its communication channels. The Coastal Agency then further notified the notifications that apply to Norway’s area of responsibility. – The ships’ radio equipment must be able to receive alerts, regardless of the area they are in. Now I don’t know what position the mentioned fishing vessel was in, but most likely outside the coverage area of normal coastal alerts and MSI which is sent on channel 16. Sveinungsen says that ships are obliged to follow navigation messages. – It is the ship that must follow international rules, and keep up to date on valid navigational warnings. Causing irritation Tore Henriksen, at the Faculty of Law at the Arctic University of Norway (UiT), believes that most fishermen read the notices and stay away. – But I know that it causes irritation, because it prevents the fishermen from fishing. It can lead to financial losses and practical problems. Henriksen explains that accidents can happen if vessels in an area are not informed about the activity there. – But it is the responsibility of the management for the exercise to keep an eye on the area in which, for example, they conduct shooting exercises, and to ensure that vessels do not stray into the area. Helmsman Øystein Orten has previously told news that he believes the Norwegian authorities must ensure that such exercises do not take place in the Norwegian economic zone. The area where the incident occurred is in the Norwegian economic zone, but also international waters. This means that the Norwegian fishing fleet can fish there, and that all countries can use the sea area to get from A to B. Or to carry out military exercises. – The authorities are simply cowards, he says. It was most likely the Russian warship “Admiral Levchenko” that was involved in the incident. Photo: Privat/Øystein Orten Published 24.09.2024, at 20.48
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– Duties to accompany yourself – news Troms and Finnmark
