Norway seizes Russian expedition cruise ship in Svalbard
The action supports Naftogaz’s effort to enforce a $4.22 billion compensation award over assets taken following Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea.
Norwegian authorities have seized the Russian-owned expedition cruise ship Professor Molchanov on behalf of Ukrainian energy company Naftogaz. A district court ordered the seizure and directed the governor of Svalbard to ensure the vessel is not moved.
The Professor Molchanov is owned by the Russian Federation and operates commercial expedition cruises, including voyages to Svalbard. The seizure is part of Naftogaz’s attempt to collect a $4.22 billion compensation award concerning assets taken when Russia annexed Crimea in 2014.
Russia described the action against the ship as piracy and said it summoned Norway’s ambassador to lodge a strong protest. Moscow has said it does not accept the arbitration court’s jurisdiction in the matter and does not intend to pay the award. Naftogaz said it will keep pursuing Russian assets internationally until it receives the compensation.