Norway seizes Russia's Svalbard liner

Sysselmesteren (the Governor of Svalbard), as enforcement authority, took the Russian vessel Professor Molchanov into custody in Barentsburg on Wednesday, 2 September. The ship carries passengers between Murmansk and Barentsburg and is in its second season. It stays at the quay until either the Governor or the district court rules differently. The Governor, the police authority, said it will look after the crew and passengers with Trust Arktikugol (Russia's state-owned company on Svalbard).

Naftogaz Group, Ukraine's state-owned energy group, said the arrest was made at its request, as one step in worldwide efforts to enforce an arbitral award won by its group companies against Russia. The seizure was ordered on 31 August 2026 by the court in Nord-Troms and Senja, to secure Russia's unpaid obligations under the award: about $4.22 billion, with interest and costs. Naftogaz said Norway had earlier recognised the award as enforceable.

A Dutch court had confirmed in late 2024 that the award, issued in The Hague, could be enforced. It gave Naftogaz Group compensation for assets Russia took in 2014 in Crimea. Naftogaz thanked the Norwegian authorities for helping to hold Russia accountable. Russian media reported the seizure on Wednesday evening. Neither Moscow nor Arktikugol had commented so far.

The Professor Molchanov is an oceanographic research vessel built in Finland 43 years ago. It has earlier carried students and researchers from Northern (Arctic) Federal University in Arkhangelsk, and it first sailed to Barentsburg in June 2025. Its operator is Northern Directorate for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring, part of Roshydromet, the Russian state meteorological service. It has made several trips this season. The plan, with Arktikugol, was 10 return trips. Arktikugol is the Russian state company operating Moscow's Svalbard businesses.

Before the direct sailings, Russians travelling to Svalbard flew via Tromsø or Oslo, needing a Schengen visa and passing Norwegian passport control. Once Norway ended tourist visas for Russians, only people tied to Arktikugol could get transit visas. Svalbard lies outside the Schengen area, and citizens of Svalbard Treaty states may enter. Cruise passengers need only a passenger list from the shipping company 48 hours before docking. The Governor checks identities on arrival.

Coverage: Pervy tekhnichesky (www1.ru), Delovoy Peterburg (dp.ru)