The Norwegian government has seized a Russian fishing vessel and claimed ownership of it after it stayed in the same fishing port for over a year.
The Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries announced it has sized the fishing vessel LLV Azurit “with immediate effect” after it overstayed its welcome in Båtsfjord Harbor. According to the directorate, the vessel has been in the harbor since May 2024.
"This vessel must be removed from Båtsfjord Harbor. After considering and trying various solutions, it was now absolutely necessary to make a decision on state takeover of the vessel,” Norwegian Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Marianne Siversten Naess said. “The Norwegian Coastal Administration can thus implement all necessary measures to remove it."
The directorate also said per the nation's Security Act, it decided on 6 December 2024 to give the LLV Azurit five working days to leave the port. That deadline expired on 13 December 2024.
“The vessel's owner has not complied with the decision to ensure that the vessel leaves Båtsfjord Harbor,” the directorate of fisheries said. “The ministry has considered and tried various solutions to tow the vessel, without any success. The police have taken the necessary measures to control the vessel.”
The directorate said other businesses and the port itself have outstanding claims against the vessel and the government “will take this into account in the further handling of the case.”
The move is the latest escalation in Norway’s handling of Russian fishing vessels since the latter country invaded Ukraine in 2022. Norway first began by restricting Russian fishing boats’ access to Norway to just three ports: Kirkenes and Båtsfjord in the Barents Sea and Tromsø in the Norwegian Sea. The restrictions also came with additional customs inspections and security checks.
Then, in 2024, Norway added further restrictions to Russian fishing vessels, including increased police activity and controls at the three ports fishing vessels were limited to. The directorate of fisheries said Båtsfjord was going to see the biggest increase in police activity of the three, with even more requirements on Russian vessels – including time limits. Prior to the restrictions, vessels could stay as long as they wanted, but with the new measures, vessels were limited to five working days at any point, and each Russian vessel had to let three days pass between stays.
More recently, Norway completely banned Russian fishing companies Norebo and Murman Seafood Company over claims of potential espionage. Russia has announced it plans to retaliate by completely banning Norwegian vessels from its waters.
