Llv-Azurit

An attempt to tow the "Azurit", which has been docked in Båtsfjord since May 2024 and was taken in ownership of the Norwegian Coastal Administration in Septemer to Trøndelag to be broken up, was started on Oct 27. The tug, however, had to give up after a while because the "Azurit" wobbled too much. It will probably tried again as soon as some adjustments have been made. The ship remained stationary in pos. 70° 38' N 029° 42' E for the time being. Report with photo: https://www.nrk.no/tromsogfinnmark/russisk-bat-forsokt-slept-fra-batsfjord-_-returnerte-til-havnen-1.17629152

The 'Azurit' in Båtsfjord may have been conducting intelligence, but has been taken over by the Norwegian state on Sep 12, and will be broken up. So far, there has been no reaction from Russia. The vessel had arrived in Båtsfjord in May l2024. The Minister of Fisheries and the Oceans Marianne Sivertsen Næss said that the government has based its decision to take ownership of the fishing vessel on the national threat assessments. The shipping company owes money to several Norwegian creditors, which has made the vessel a legal tangle, both for the Norwegian authorities and the creditors. The government has used sections 2-5 of the Insurance Act to take control of "Azurit". Several ways to remove the vessel were discussed, including towing it to Russia or another Norwegian port. Also a purchase agreement with the Russian shipping company was considered, but these solutions have not been brought forward. The state through the Norwegian Coastal Administration now has full control over the vessel and can implement all necessary measures, based on the threat assessments that the PST and the security services have made. Steps have been taken to ensure that the vessel no longer poses a threat. - The Norwegian Coastal Administration has been tasked with removing the vessel from Båtsfjord as soon as possible. The exact date is not yet clear. The plan is to tow the vessel to a shipyard in Norway and break it up there. Report with photos: https://www.nrk.no/tromsogfinnmark/konfiskert-russisk-fiskefartoy-blir-spiker-1.17571623

On Sep 12, the Norwegian Government has decided to take over the ownership of the 'Azurit' because the Russian owners did not follow an order for the ship to leave Norway. It will now be removed from Båtsfjord harbour, where it had been staying since May 2024. Various solutions have been considered after the Government ordered the vessel to leave as it was posing a risk, and national security interests were threatened. The decision was effective immediately and meant that the state will have full control over the 'Azurit'. The Norwegian Coastal Administration will be tasked with removing the vessel, The remaining Russian crew onboard will have to leave the Norway. In July 2024, the Government tightened its rules, granting Russian-flagged vessels permission to stay in port for a maximum of five days. The ports open in addition to Båtsfjord are Tromsø and Kirkenes. The new regulations were introduced amid increased fear of hybrid sabotage operations across Europe by actors linked to Moscow. New rules were introduced in July this year by banning the two largest Murmansk-based fishing companies, Norebo and Murman Seafood, from entering any ports in Norway. The two companies were also denied fishing in the Norwegian Exclusive Economical Zone. The two fishing companies were regarded as part of a Russian state-sponsored surveillance campaign and intelligence activity targeting critical underwater infrastructure in Norwegian and allied maritime areas and may facilitate future sabotage operations and threaten important Norwegian security policy interests.

The 'LLV Azurit' has been expelled from Båtsfjord under the Security Act. D When the Prime Minister's Office (SMK) on Dec 6, 2024, released "officially from the Council of State" this message did not contain anything about the Russian vessel. On Dec 12, the message from SMK was updated, stating that the vessel must leave the port within five working days of the decision being notified. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries may, upon application, grant an exemption from the deadline set out in decision point 1, if the weather conditions make it inappropriate to sail or tow the vessel. The vessel's crew and the vessel's agent are obliged to cooperate in ensuring that the order in decision point 1 is implemented. The obligations in decision points 1 and 2 apply without prejudice to missing certificates, arrest of the vessel or other public or private law permits or restrictions on the right to leave the port. If the vessel has not left the port within the deadline and any exemption pursuant to decision point 2 is not available, the Norwegian authorities may tow the vessel. If the tow is not carried out in accordance with decision point 5, the police may take necessary measures against the vessel and crew as long as the vessel is in port, for example searching the vessel, prohibiting stay on the vessel or other measures. Measures taken pursuant to decision points 5 and 6 are carried out at the expense and risk of the responsible parties mentioned in decision point 1. They are jointly and severally liable. It is still uncertain whether the vessel violates the government's notification, or whether it applies from Dec 12 when SMK updated its website. The Østre Finnmark District Court has previously decided that the ship should be detained due to an outstanding financial claim from the Industrikulde AS. The background to the claim of 1.26 million Norwegian crowns was that the boat's owners have not settled for repairs and service that were carried out in 2022. The lawyer Kenneth Mikkelsen, who represents the Industrikulde AS, confirmed the detention.

The "Azurit" was disabled by a net which fouled the propeller in the Barents Sea in position 73 54N 017 17E, in the evening of Oct 7, 2016. The owner was arranging a towage conctract. As of Oct 9, the vessel was still adrift.

In the evening of Sep 29, 2015, at 6.30 p.m. the "Azurit" ran aground on a rock off Båtsfjord. The lifeboat "Reidar von Kos" was close by and was immediately dispatched to assist the longliner, and supported by the full moon, storm surges and an extra high tide it got the ship off the reef at the first attempt. The ship was safely towed into dock amd left the port of Båtsfjord again on Oct 1 at 11.45 a.m. bound for the Norwegian Sea. Norwegian report and photos: http://www.ifinnmark.no/batsfjord/nyheter/russisk-linebat-gikk-pa-skjar/s/5-81-132288 https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CQF0AONWwAAmk6i.jpg https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CQF0AOLXAAEUNhj.jpg