Norway Worried About a Possible Shadow Fleet by Svalbard

A company whose origin is unknown has asked Norwegian authorities for permission to move liquefied natural gas (LNG) from one ship to another in a fjord area of Svalbard. The Norwegian Directorate for Civil Protection (DSB) suspects the vessels could belong to the Russian shadow fleet. It has sought guidance from Justis- og beredskapsdepartementet (the Ministry of Justice and Public Security). High North News saw the letter DSB sent to the ministry.

DSB received the inquiry in April. In the letter the company's address has been blacked out. The company has not said where the gas comes from. It has said it intends to travel to Oslo and Svalbard this fall, and it asked DSB for a meeting to clarify the rules and how a permit application might work. DSB states that it has not answered the meeting request.

The directorate describes handling hazardous substances in Svalbard as especially difficult. It writes that emergency response there, with few resources at hand, could lead to very demanding situations. DSB is also unsure why the company chose Svalbard. Citing the security situation and the relations between India and Russia, it says it doubts the company's motive and sees reason to think the gas may be Russian-produced at the Yamal peninsula. DSB writes that any such operation should be judged against the sanctions on Russia, and that the ships must not be part of the shadow fleet. It is talking with the Coastal Administration and the Environment Agency, and wants the ministry to set out how it should deal with the company.

Transfers of LNG are regulated by the Fire and Explosion Protection Act, and DSB must give its consent first. The local authority, the Coastal Administration and the Environment Agency must also grant permits.

Before Russia attacked Ukraine in 2022, Russian LNG was transferred at several sites in Finnmark. EU sanctions ended such transfers in Norwegian waters last year, yet tankers with Russian gas still anchor off the Finnmark coast. Around Svalbard, Russian trawlers still hand over cod to supply ships and can get fuel there, within existing laws.