- Norway may blame wrong vessel

The image was Sunday sent to BarentsObserver from the Thailand-based, Russian language online publication Maritime Bulletin. The publication is known for tracking and investigating information about incidents and accidents with ships worldwide.

BarentsObserver could Saturday report that Northern Shipping Company in Arkhangelsk denies that their cargo vessel “Vladimir Timofeyev” was the one that ran into a small Norwegian fishing boat “Fløygrunn” off the coast of Finnmark late Thursday night. The Norwegian wooden vessel sank and the crew of three was rescued under dramatic circumstances.

The vessel that ran into the small Norwegian fishing boat did not stop.

The Norwegian coast guard vessel “KV Farm” was sent to the area and called on radio to “Vladimir Timofeyev” requesting it stop. When the crew of the coast guard vessel tried to bark, the Russian vessel it did not stop and instead continued into Russian waters.

The reason for not stopping was said to be because last year the Norwegian coast guard arrested the vessel “Mekhanik Tyulenev” suspected of crashing with the Norwegian fishing vessel “Marina.” After two weeks of investigation, charges against the vessel were dropped and “Mekhanik Tyulenev” was released. No excuses were given, according to a Norther Shipping Company (NSC) source in Arkhangelsk. NSC was afraid to lose much money if another of their vessels was held in arrest for weeks this time also.

Read also: Norway detained third Russian vessel in one month

The Vessel Positioning System (VPS) tracks of “Vladimir Timofeyev” clearly show that the vessel turned position several times just after the Norwegian fishing boat collided.

The source in the Northern Shipping Company says to Maritime Bulletin that “Vladimir Timofeyev” turned because they were requested by Norway to assist the Norwegian boat that where in severe difficulties.

Both Maritime Bulletin and Northern Shipping Company are asking why the Norwegian authorities did not investigate the other vessel that was in the area of the crash that evening. The vessel was the Chinese bulk carrier “Yutai Ambitions” heading for Murmansk.

The photo sent to BarentsObserver of “Yutai Ambitions” is taken in Murmansk on Saturday. The photo clearly shows signs of some kind of bruising on the bow, and fresh paint on the portside.

According to Maritime Bulletin, the crew on the Chinese vessel also wanted to start the loading of the vessel at once so it goes deeper in the sea. As a result, the painted area on the bow will not be visible.

Since the Norwegian police believed the vessel involved in the collision was “Vladimir Timofeyev”, the Chinese vessel was not called on for interrogation and continued to sail eastwards directly into Russian waters as can be seen from the VPS tracks from the area Thursday night.

The accident is under investigation by Norwegian police with assistance from both the Norwegian and Russian coast guards.