The Norwegian Maritime Authority is detaining a Chinese vessel in Andfjorden off Vesterålen because it is sailing under a false flag, reports High North News. The ship sought shelter from severe weather on 13 October, and an inspection revealed that it lacked a flag state and the necessary certificates to sail. Initial reports mentioned two Chinese heavy-lift vessels. One of them has sailed on.
The vessels are involved in the construction of Russia’s giant Arctic LNG 2 LNG plant. They have been transporting modules via the Northern Sea Route. What they are doing off the Norwegian coast is unknown. Their presence triggered a response from the Norwegian authorities. Several coastguard vessels were in the area.
The Norwegian Maritime Authority inspected the ‘Ya Qing Hai Yang” on 13 October after the vessel sought shelter from bad weather in Andfjorden off Vesterålen. “The inspection revealed that the vessel lacked valid registration with a flag state as well as the necessary certificates,” Dag Inge Aarhus, Director of Communications at the Norwegian Maritime Authority, told High North News. – The vessel has therefore been detained until further notice.
The ship must ensure it is properly registered with a flag state and obtain valid certificates before the authorities can complete the inspection and consider its release.
Both Denmark and Sweden have detained ships in the Russian ‘shadow fleet’, but Chinese ships are in a class of their own. China has shown an interest in the development of the Arctic and the High North, and this is undoubtedly linked to the fact that the Northern Sea Route is now increasingly being opened up to traffic.
