Ten days ago, the government decided that the Russian fishing vessel “Azurit” had to leave Båtsfjord within five days. The vessel is still in port. Lawyer Kenneth Mikkelsen says it is because a local company has arrested the boat. – It’s because they haven’t paid, and we have a statute of limitations approaching when it comes to the money claim. Contradiction between court and government The Barents Observer reported that the deportation decision was made by the King in Council, which is very unusual. The shipping company owes almost 1.3 million to the local company, writes Kyst og Fjord. It was the Inner and Eastern Finnmark district court that upheld the arrest. Mikkelsen says that is why the vessel cannot be deported. – There are two different situations. One is our monetary claim which we are trying to secure. Then there is the ministry which wants to remove the boat for safety reasons. We have no desire to work against it. Law professor Svein Kristian Arntzen at UiT Norway’s Arctic University says the arrest in “Azurit” precedes the government’s deportation decision. Photo: UiT Norway’s Arctic University The arrest precedes deportation Three Norwegian ports are still open to Russian fishing vessels. This summer, the rules were tightened. Now no such vessel can lie in Tromsø, Båtsfjord or Kirkenes for more than five working days. Law professor Svein Kristian Arntzen at UiT Norway’s Arctic University says the rule still does not apply to vessels that have been arrested. – The arrest precedes the decision made by the King in Council. Put another way, the Security Act, paragraphs 2–5, first paragraph, which is used as a legal basis, does not give the right to set aside this arrest in the vessel. He also says that both Norway and Russia must follow the international convention on detention in ships. – It is, of course, also a factor that becomes important in the event of enforcement of a valid decision. Parliamentary representative Bengt Rune Strifeldt says the government could have provided a guarantee and thus ensured that “Azurit” could leave Båtsfjord. Photo: Jonas Løken Estenstad Can be arranged with a guarantee The Progress Party’s fisheries policy spokesman, Bengt Rune Strifeldt, believes this could have been solved by providing a guarantee to the local company. – It would have been fine if we had a government that had the power to act. It is not a large sum to secure the money against the mortgagee and ensure that the boat left Båtsfjord within the specified time. Then it must be ensured that the person who has gone to court and obtained a mortgage on the boat can secure his claims. news has requested a comment from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, but the press service states that it will not come until Monday morning. Published 15.12.2024, at 22.28
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