The Russian fishing trawler “Melkart-5” crossed the Svalbard fiber more than 140 times – NRK Nordland

Most internet traffic in the world goes through submarine cables. The cables that run between Svalbard and the mainland ensure that the island in the Arctic can communicate with the rest of the world.

But when we get 12 nautical miles, or 22 kilometers off the coast, they are only protected by ancient, international laws.

Administrator Lars Fause in Svalbard believes that the current legislation is not sufficient.

– FTo me, it is quite obvious that the law cannot be used to prosecute a ship that knowingly or negligently damages a fiber cable outside 12 nautical miles, says Governor Lars Fause.

Today, submarine cables ensure that we can, for example, talk together, shop, watch Netflix and use Snapchat on a daily basis.

There are also over 8,800 kilometers of pipelines from Norwegian oil and gas fields on the seabed.

But the law the police have to protect pipes and submarine cables dates back to when the world communicated through telegraph cables.

A Russian trawler was in the police spotlight after the critically important Svalbard fiber was damaged at the beginning of January.

– The provision from 1884 only raises liability for damages. If, with modern legal thinking, one were to protect the cable through someone being held responsible and with punishment, then one has to think again, says Fause.

This means that those who damage pipes or cables may only have to pay compensation. They cannot be punished, believes Fause.

In January, the Governor asked the Russian trawler “Melkart-5” to move the fishing to another location.

NRK has previously told about how those and several others Russian fishing vessels were nearby in two separate incidents when important submarine cables were damaged and cut.

But the AIS traces showed that “Melkart-5” stood out from the others.

NRK has taken a closer look at where the was before and after the damage to one of the two cables that go to Svalbard.

It looks like a child’s drawing, but shows AIS-the tracks from the trawler crossing a limited area above the cables. The pink, wavy line shows the area in which the cables are located.

During the first nine days of January, the trawler crossed “Melkart-5” the cables more than 107 times.

Then “Melkart-5”later docked in Båtsfjord, they were met by the police, and the captain was questioned.

Several media, among them Document.no and E24, referred to the trawler’s many movements over the cable.

Although the police leaned towards human activity as the cause of the damage, the case was dropped.

NRK’s ​​investigations show that only a few months passed from the closure, to “Melkart-5” again crossed over the cables off Svalbard.

Over three periods, from 13 May until 1 August, they have crossed the cables 36 times, the AIS tracks show.

We have sent questions by e-mail to the trawler, the shipping company and the ship’s agent about the trawler’s movements. So far we have not received any new answers.

Earlier, deputy director Andrey Roman, in Murman Seafood, responded on behalf of the captain.

– The captain says they had nothing to do with the fact that the fiber cable between Svalbard and the mainland lost its connection on 7 January this year.

Roman wrote this summer that they were fishing legally. Furthermore, he wrote that there could have been many reasons why the cable was damaged. He also pointed out that the AIS data is not necessarily to be trusted.

From 1 January to the end of August this year, the Russian fishing vessel apparently fished over the same area on the Svalbard fiber more than 140 times.

Have proposed a trawl ban

Mayor Lars Fause says he has verbally recommended national authorities to better protect the fiber cables.

He has proposed a ban on trawling, anchoring or diving. At the same time, Norway is bound by international rules and agreements, which he believes can make it difficult.

– I have to take self-criticism for that this has not been addressed better in the past. It has been discussed in many contexts. But that question is relevant now in today’s situation.

FOrsk and naval captain at the Naval Academy, Tor Ivar Strømmen, says this should have been in place a long time ago.

– It is simply a disaster, says Strømmen.

He says Norway could have adopted it The right of the sea to protect submarine cables and pipes in the same way as in the Norwegian oil and gas fields.

They have one there safety zone which will prevent vessels from getting too close.

After the gas explosion in the Baltic Sea, several have The Storting asked questions about the risks surrounding Russian trawlers.

The suspicion of sabotage of the gas pipelines have been strengthened. Many suspect Russia, which the country has flatly rejected.

– This is about the fact that the coastal state has not implemented any measures that allow us to legally intervene with coercive power if necessary, to protect critical infrastructure. Whether it concerns communication cables at Svalbard or pipelines for gas in the North Sea, says Strømmen.

Both submarine cables and gas pipes are marked on the public sea chart. Although it is not illegal to fish here, the fishing vessels usually stay away from these areas.

The current thinks it is at best special that Russian fishing trawlers cross Norwegian submarine cables more than a hundred times in a short period of time.

– Unless there were to be a specific fishing resource in that particular place, it tells me that it is a deliberate act, without it being possible to prove that it was done with the intention of destroying the cables, says Tor Ivar Strømmen.

We have asked the Minister of Justice for an answer on whether they are considering a ban to protect submarine cables and pipes. They have referred us on to the Ministry of Local Government and District Affairs.

They write in an email that we can quote State Secretary Gunn Karin Gjul (AP) on the following:

“The geopolitical security situation shows how important it is that both market players and authorities work for safer and more robust self-fibre cables and more conduits.”

It also states that they are following the situation closely, and that they have already taken many measures, including by providing government support to establish a new and secure fiber connection between Norway and abroad. In addition, they have entered into contracts for various security measures for foreign fiber with several players.

They will not comment on which measures are appropriate to implement in the future.