Product tanker ENERGY AFRODITE called EQUINOR LNG production terminal at Hammerfest, Norway, during Oct 28-30, raising security fears in local community. Tanker though UK-flagged and Greek-operated, is manned by all-Russian crew. What’s more, there was crew change, and again, replacement crew were all Russians. Norway banned all Russian ships from calling Norwegian ports with the exception of fishing vessels, permitted to call specific ports. Ban doesn’t embrace non-Russian ships with Russian crews, though. EQUINOR LNG facility is of strategic importance not for Norway only, but for all of EU, considering gas war between Russia and EU. And with that, Russian seamen were granted shore leave and moved around freely. It’s impossible to close down all Norwegian ports for any Russian seaman, considering their number working in global merchant fleet, but with that, Norway and relevant authorities should be more vigilant and wary, at least around vulnerable facilities like EQUINOR. Scandal is unfolding with politicians and security experts requiring Gov to respond.
As of morning Nov 9, tanker was adrift off Mongstad Norway, ETA Nov 9.
The opinions expressed herein are the author’s and not necessarily those of News2Sea.