Norway Worried About a Possible Shadow Fleet by Svalbard
It is unclear which part of Svalbard's coastline the request is referring to. Here are Russian trawlers in Recherchefjorden, in the Sør-Spitsbergen National Park in Svalbard. (Photo: Arne O. Holm)
A company of unknown origin has applied for a permit to transfer Russian liquefied natural gas from ship to ship in a fjord in Svalbard. The Norwegian Directorate for Civil Protection fears that this involves ships from the Russian shadow fleet and has asked the Norwegian Ministry of Justice and Public Security for advice.
In April this year, the Norwegian Directorate for Civil Protection (DSB) received a request from a company of unknown origin wanting to conduct a ship-to-ship transfer of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the fjords by Svalbard.
In a recent letter from the DSB to the Norwegian Ministry of Justice and Public Security that High North News has gained access to, the company's address has been redacted.
The company has not provided information about the origin of the LNG that they request transshipped in the Svalbard area, but has informed that they plan to visit Oslo and Svalbard this fall.
In this connection, they have asked for a meeting with the DSB for a "clarification of regulations and how a possible permit application process could be carried out."
"We have not responded to the request for a meeting," the DSB informs.
Uncertain about the company's motivation.
Particularly challenging
Before Russia's attack on Ukraine in 2022, Russian LNG was transshipped at several locations in Finnmark, Northern Norway.
DSB considers it particularly challenging to tranship hazardous materials in Svalbard.
In particular, emergency preparedness and handling of unwanted incidents in such environments and with limited available resources can result in very demanding emergency situations," writes the directorate.
Russian gas
They are also uncertain about the company's reason for using Svalbard specifically for transshipment.
"Given today's security policy situation, particularly linked to the relationship between India and Russia, we are uncertain about the company's motivation for this request. There is reason to believe this could be Russian-produced LNG from the production facility at the Yamal peninsula."
Ship-to-ship transfer of Russian liquefied natural gas near Honningsvåg on February 19th, 2019, between the Russian natural gas company Novatek and the Norwegian shipping company Tschudi. (Photo: the Norwegian Coastal Administration)
The DSB writes that such transshipment operations should be assessed in connection with the current sanctions regime against Russia and to make sure that the vessels in question are not part of the Russian 'shadow fleet.'
The DSB informs that they are in dialogue with the Norwegian Coastal Administration and the Norwegian Environment Agency in connection with the inquiry.
Asks for advice
The directorate is now asking the ministry for further instructions and guidelines for further contact with the company.
The transshipment of LNG is considered hazardous and is regulated through the Fire and Explosion Protection Act with regulations, and consent from DSB is required before such transshipment of hazardous substances can be carried out.
In addition to consent under the regulations on handling hazardous substances, permits are also required from the Norwegian Coastal Administration, the Environment Agency, and the local authority.
Continued Russian activity
Although the transshipment of Russian LNG in Norwegian waters was stopped by the EU's economic sanctions against Russia last year, tankers carrying Russian gas to Europe continue to anchor by the coast of Finnmark in Northern Norway.
Cod caught in the area around Svalbard is still loaded from Russian trawlers onto supply ships, where the trawlers also have access to fuel and other necessary equipment. All within the scope of applicable laws and regulations.
