Lyce · Hybrid Watch

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Russian-linked shadow tanker Derzhava enters Norwegian territorial waters near Bear Island.

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On 7 August, the Russian-linked shadow-fleet tanker Derzhava sailed close to Norway’s Bear Island in the Barents Sea. The 274-metre tanker was travelling from India toward Murmansk. Ship-tracking data showed that the vessel approached to less than 30 kilometres south of Bear Island. The ship initially appeared to be heading toward Norwegian territorial waters. Just before entering the territorial waters surrounding Bear Island, however, the vessel made a sharp turn southwards. It subsequently continued through Norway’s exclusive economic zone toward the Russian maritime boundary. The tanker had previously operated under the name Elbrus and before that under other names, characteristics associated with the opaque shadow-fleet shipping network. Its movement is therefore relevant to monitoring Russian sanctions-evasion and maritime activity around NATO territory. There is no evidence that the vessel conducted sabotage or another hostile operation during this passage, so it should not be coded as a confirmed attack.

Occurrence
Publication
First observed
Review status
Not assessed
Countries
Norway
Updated

Attribution

Pattern-compatible

Facts

No facts

Sources

  1. Role
    Discovery lead
    Publication

    On 7 August, the Russian-linked shadow-fleet tanker Derzhava sailed close to Norway’s Bear Island in the Barents Sea. The 274-metre tanker was travelling from India toward Murmansk. Ship-tracking data showed that the vessel approached to less than 30 kilometres south of Bear Island. The ship initially appeared to be heading toward Norwegian territorial waters. Just before entering the territorial waters surrounding Bear Island, however, the vessel made a sharp turn southwards. It subsequently continued through Norway’s exclusive economic zone toward the Russian maritime boundary. The tanker had previously operated under the name Elbrus and before that under other names, characteristics associated with the opaque shadow-fleet shipping network. Its movement is therefore relevant to monitoring Russian sanctions-evasion and maritime activity around NATO territory. There is no evidence that the vessel conducted sabotage or another hostile operation during this passage, so it should not be coded as a confirmed attack.