– The Norwegian authorities must assume that the research has military purposes, says Åse Gilje Østensen to news. She is a researcher at the Norwegian Naval Academy and researches hybrid warfare at sea. The Russian embassy in Oslo has asked the Norwegian authorities for permission to carry out two research trips this summer. The aim of the research is to examine the seabed off the coast of Finnmark and east of Svalbard. The research ships “Akademik Mstislav Keldysh” and “Professor Moltsjanov” are used to map the seabed. In 2022, Aftenposten revealed that the Russian embassy asked the Norwegian authorities for guarantees that the ship “Professor Moltsjanov” would not be taken into custody. The request came in connection with a planned research trip. Åse Gilje Østensen believes the Norwegian authorities should deny the Russian research ships access to conduct research in Norwegian areas. Photo: Erlend Koppergård / news Sanctioned by the USA According to Østensen, the Shirshov Institute is sanctioned by the USA: – They carry out research that supports the Russian navy. This activity is problematic, especially in the security policy situation, she says. The research institution has been on the sanctions lists in Ukraine and the USA since December 2022. Therefore, the Shirshov Institute is sanctioned Shirshov Oceanographic Institute, at the Russian Research Academy is the oldest and largest Russian research center in oceanology. They conduct basic and applied research through the use of research vessels, aircraft, underwater and spacecraft and other technical means. In addition, it develops remote-controlled and autonomous robotic tools that perform search and reconnaissance missions, as well as forming parts of network-centric systems for observation, registration and guidance of surface and submarine forces for the Russian Navy and other Russian government agencies. Press release from the US State Department December 2022 about why the research institution was sanctioned in December 2022. Another Russian research institute is behind the application for the ship “Professor Moltsjanov”. The ship wants to investigate the seabed east of Svalbard. At the same time, both ships are listed on the Shirshov Oceanographic Institute’s website as their vessel. The Shirshov Institute is behind the application for the research ship “Akademik Mstislav Keldysh”. The ship has applied to survey the seabed off Finnmark. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs informs that both applications are still being processed. They do not want to be interviewed in the case. The areas Russian research vessels want to survey are in close proximity to Norwegian oil and gas fields. In addition to the central communication cable between Svalbard and the mainland. Can map Norwegian petroleum areas The research ship “Akademik Mstislav Keldysh” will investigate areas that overlap central parts of Norwegian oil and gas operations. In particular, they will investigate areas near the Snøhvit gas field. In addition to the seabed where gas pipes carry gas from the field to the production plant on Melkøya. The Melkøya plant currently produces liquefied natural gas (LNG), which is largely exported to Germany. LNG gas from Melkøya replaces previously imported Russian gas. The Johan Castberg and Goliat fields are also located near the survey area. Ina Holst-Pedersen Kvam is a researcher at the Norwegian Naval Academy. Photo: Forsvarets høgskole – The institute is used for monitoring Østensen’s colleague at the Naval Academy, Ina Holst-Pedersen Kvam, agrees that the institute must be considered part of the Russian navy’s activities. – The institute is known for carrying out oceanographic mapping and other types of monitoring and reconnaissance missions. They also support the Russian Navy, and especially the needs of the strategic submarines. This is a civil-military collaboration that stretches all the way back to the Cold War, says Kvam to news. Kvam believes that it cannot be ruled out that the applications are about innocent research activity: – Therefore, Russia prefers to use civil organizations as a cover. Usually the research is carried out at the same time as military missions, says Kvam. In news’s investigative documentary “Shadow War” it emerges that Russia probably uses civilian trawlers to monitor NATO’s military activities in Norwegian waters. Therefore, it may be difficult for the Norwegian authorities to refuse voyages in Norwegian sea areas: – Although we are aware that the use of such voyages for intelligence purposes has become more common, she points out. Magne Frostad is a maritime law researcher and says it may be difficult for the Norwegian authorities to say no to Russian research expeditions. Photo: UIT There can be consequences if you say no Magne Frostad is a researcher at the Maritime Law Centre, at the Arctic University in Tromsø. He tells news that mutual research access in national sea areas is regulated by the UN Treaty on the Law of the Sea: – If you want to carry out such activity in other countries’ sea areas, you must apply for permission. Normally, permission is granted unless there are good reasons to refuse, says Forstad. A reason for refusal can be if the research is used for military purposes. But Frostad believes it can be difficult to prove. He points out that there could be consequences for the Norwegian authorities to reject the applications from Russia. – It will probably affect the willingness to grant a corresponding permit on the Russian side, emphasizes Frostad. “Academic Mstislav Keldysh” will investigate the seabed along a larger area off the coast of Finnmark. In addition to a formation east of Jan Mayen. The areas overlap important Norwegian petroleum installations – and communication cables. Photo: The websites of the Shirshov Institute Russian embassy: – Independent geopolitical situation – We believe that it is basically the Norwegian authorities that should comment on these applications, writes Timur Chekanov in an e-mail to news. He is a press guard at the Russian embassy in Oslo. Chekanov says the embassy forwards the applications from Russian research institutes in the usual way. In the same way, the Norwegian embassy in Moscow does this for Norwegian research institutions: – This is carried out regardless of the geopolitical situation and applies not only to environmental protection and marine research, but also to the fishing industry, concludes Chekanov.
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Sanctioned Russian research ships will examine the seabed off Finnmark and Svalbard – news Troms and Finnmark
