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Norwegian Government Targets Russian Ships in New Maritime Security Measure
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The Norwegian government has proposed a new measure that would ban large Russian vessels from navigating its territorial waters without a mandatory pilot escort.
The statement was released by the Norwegian government on July 11.
Under current rules, Russian ships are allowed to sail independently through Norwegian waters that typically require a pilot, provided their navigators have been granted a special permit. Now, Oslo wants to close that loophole.
"Maritime security and situational awareness in our immediate region are top priorities in our national security strategy," said Norway’s Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, Marianne Sivertsen Næss. "We’re introducing stricter controls on pilot certification to reduce the risk of intelligence-gathering from civilian vessels."
The proposal, published Friday, comes amid heightened concern over Russia’s maritime activity and is part of a broader package of security measures introduced by Norway in recent months. It will be open for public consultation until the end of August.
In the meantime, the Norwegian Maritime Authority has suspended processing of any applications from Russian navigators seeking new or renewed permits.
Earlier, it was reported that Norwegian defense firm Radionor Communications plans to open a representative office—and potentially a full-service center—in Ukraine, stepping up its direct support for the country’s drone warfare capabilities as Russia’s full-scale invasion continues.
