Russian ‘Spy Ship’ in the North Sea Raises Concerns About Maritime Infrastructure Security
A new documentary produced by a consortium of public broadcasters in Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway has revealed what appears to be a profound threat to maritime and undersea energy and data infrastructure in the North Sea and the Baltic region. The Shadow War includes footage of a Russian research vessel called Admiral Vladimirsky allegedly collecting data on windfarms, gas pipelines, power and internet cables.The film, which has been widely reported in the UK press this week, asserts that Russia is systematically mapping the vulnerabilities of maritime infrastructure in the North Sea.
Arctic Bay is a Strait Proves Research Ship
The crew of the Admiral Vladimirsky research vessel during the second phase of its voyage has made a number of geographical and scientific discoveries in the Arctic, the press-service of the Baltic fleet reports via Arctic-info. During navigation along the Northern Sea Route, the vessel's crew was able to prove with the help of satellite photography that Krivosheina Bay of the Novaya Zemlya islands is actually a strait. The formation of a new cape has also been documented, which has been temporarily named Krugosvetka (circumnavigation). In addition, specialists received unique hydrographic and hydrological data on previously unexplored areas. The collapse and retreat of glaciers has been recorded, the height of which in 1952 was 100 meters.
Admiral Vladimirsky on Round-the-world Voyage
On 18 August, the Admiral Vladimirsky oceanographic research ship of the Baltic Fleet will leave St. Petersburg and then set sail on an unprecedented round-the-world voyage. "The Russian Navy, after more than 30 years, is returning to round-the-world voyages," said the head of navigation and oceanography of the Russian Ministry of Defence, captain of 1st rank, Sergey Travin. According to him, preparation of the training vessel is fully complete. The route of the ship will include the Baltic, North and Barents Seas, the waters of the Northern Sea Route, the Bering Sea, and northern part of the Pacific Ocean. The ship will pass through the Panama Canal into the Atlantic Ocean…
