All low ice class ships have already exited the eastern sector and the only ships in the east that are expected to transit NSR are Sevmorput, Vasily Dinkov and two Yamalmax LNG carriers, all of which can return independently.
I still think much of “the crisis” last year happened in Atle’s head. In the end it was more or less normal winter navigation albeit not well organized by the Russians who ordered foreign-flagged ships to stop and wait even though they had only one icebreaker deployed in the region. I spotted Arc7s pushing 19 knots while sailing past those ships reported to be “stuck in ice” and “in need of rescue”.
Will that re-open a can of worms in the Canadian Arctic?:
If the Russians can so can the Canadians (and v.v.)
China claim their right to free navigation on both the NSR and the NW Passage per UNCLOS, which is clear on the matter (??)
The US has not ratified UNCLOS, so they have no sayso here (??) (Outside Alaskan territorial waters at least)
Russia has been banned from the Arctic Council so that forum is not available to resolve the question of the NSR and has not been able to resolve the US/Canada dispute.
Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Barents cooperation in 2013, then prime ministers Dmitri Medvedev and Jens Stoltenberg walked side-by-side across the Norwegian-Russian border. Ten years on, Medvedev is babbling about nuclear war, while Stoltenberg is head of NATO.
Photo: Thomas Nilsen
MASSIVE: The boat is massive and eye-catching. The same can be said about the 38 meter high mast. PHOTO: TROND ARVID ALUND
When the Firebird docked in Molde for nine days, it was without the owner himself onboard.
According to British skipper Andrew Lis, the drone-accused Russian would follow.
He is probably on board now at Åndalsnes this weekend.
He is now free to spend time in Norway. According to an earlier report he has never been in this part of Norway but intend to spend abt. three weeks enjoying the nature and exploring Northwest Norway, (but without using drones) before returning to his home in Italy.
Source: smp.no today