Circumnavigation Norwegian Yacht detained by Russians.

[lenseman]

The Norwegian-flagged yacht, "RX II", (from the port of Grimstad) which is circumnavigating the North Pole above the 70°N Parallel, was detailed Wednesday by the Russian Border Patrol Ship "NEVA".

She was detained in the East Siberian Sea. Apparently, they did not have clearance to sail in the northern sea routes!

http://lenta.ru/news/2009/08/26/yacht/

http://www.newsru.com/russia/01sep2009/rxii.html

The yacht has been escorted out of the Northern Sea and is now south of the Bering Straights heading Alaska.

http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/distrikt/sorlandet/1.6747554

'SPOT' position can me monitored here:

http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0sh4D6qB4SbUlL8PQTx67P76naNiL79ys

 

[kingfisher]

Ooh, let's see them try navigating US waters without clearance. See how fast they get detained then.

They should have asked for clearence.

 

[jason -and the arguenauts]

The Russians are claiming as their territory huge areas to the north inc most of the arctic circle. And they are nationalist to the point of being fascist these days, with all the usual traits from re-writing history (ask the Poles about that) to suppressing free speach and oppressing colonised areas like the south caucasus. With the resurgence of the KGB in the shape of Putin, you cant really expect anything from them but the same sort of behaviour you saw in the cold war days

 

[[3889]]

I didn't think permission was required to navigate any territorial waters under the UN convention on the law of the sea, unlike internal waters, which generally fall landward of chords between headlands.

 

[Refueler]

The Russians are claiming as their territory huge areas to the north inc most of the arctic circle. And they are nationalist to the point of being fascist these days, with all the usual traits from re-writing history (ask the Poles about that) to suppressing free speach and oppressing colonised areas like the south caucasus. With the resurgence of the KGB in the shape of Putin, you cant really expect anything from them but the same sort of behaviour you saw in the cold war days

So unlike some of us - you don;t live with Russians or really know much then ?

 

[Deleted member 36384]

Worked in Russia for 3 years up in the offshore arctic on gas projects. The Russian's have a lot of potential hydrocarbons up there and they are very determined to formalise their boundaries and claim any non formal boundaries as their own.

The first guy to sail pole to pole completed his trip (last year / 2 years ago?) and had similar problems. The governor of some territory who owns an English foot ball team was petitioned to help him get permission - which he did and got. Sorry for not naming names but I am sh*& at remembering names.

The Russians are also normalising their border / entry stuff in a hope to get easier access to Europe, so they have to demonstrate that they have control over their borders.

Having said that - they are great people who suffer from the same paranoia as everyone else. The only difference is that their paranoid fears were facts for about 4 to 5 generations!

 

[Seven Spades]

What is the definition of international waters? I thought that if you were 12 milres offshore from aywhere then you are free to move around without any hinderence.

 

[Deleted member 36384]

What is the definition of international waters? I thought that if you were 12 milres offshore from aywhere then you are free to move around without any hinderence.

I think Britain used to have 200 mile limit, Cod Wars, European Union put paid to that.

 

[SAWDOC]

The crew of Northabout had a russian pilot onboard for much of their journey - they didn't like it but felt it was one of those things you had to do to get by - as well as having a crew member fluent in russian, spending time in Moscow before departure. That is the way the Russian system is - how do you cross the hurdle? Norwegian boat is finding out the hard way.

 

[Refueler]

The crew of Northabout had a russian pilot onboard for much of their journey - they didn't like it but felt it was one of those things you had to do to get by - as well as having a crew member fluent in russian, spending time in Moscow before departure. That is the way the Russian system is - how do you cross the hurdle? Norwegian boat is finding out the hard way.

Russia has specific routes / entry requirements and fail to follow them at your risk. They do not compromise.
But if you follow the rules, you will find them a very friendly people and a rewarding experience. As another says - they have their 'fears' of us ... it works both ways.

As to Govt style and Putin / Med ... Russia is a country that needs strong hand, the people expect it of their Govt. It's a harsh environment for half the year and people grow up with it. If you had same lax, liberalist rubbish that is generally in West and UK - it wouldn't last 5 minutes in Russia or CISS. It would find itself sidelined and laughed at faster than anything.

If you travel into the northern waters - you have to appreciate you are in Russia's Nuclear playground .. Akula subs, Surface ships etc. They take it very seriously. You may think area is clear and empty ... Yeh !!

 

[goboatingnow]

" Russia is a country that needs strong hand, the people expect it of their Govt"

so its fascist them hmmm.....

 

[Refueler]

" Russia is a country that needs strong hand, the people expect it of their Govt"

so its fascist them hmmm.....

Still don't understand then ....

Imagine a country that puts Sicilian Mafia to shame. Imagine a country so big, with so many different ethnics and cultures under it's banner. There is a major problem for most in the West to try and comprehend ... sheer size and nature of the country simply called Russia. It is huge ... it is diverse ... it has huge amounts of resources natural and human / animal.

I suggest that those who easily crow "fascist" should take time out to study properly that country simply called Russia. They are a very Proud People, despite the horrors of Stalin, Soviet era - they were a world power ... no-one messed with them. 90's hit them like a sledge hammer, Navy tied up crumbling, Army deserting, Air Force grounded for lack of fuel / spares ... pensions unpaid, salarys forgotten. To pick up a huge country as that and put it back on the world stage, to put the markets back up .. plus battling with the Mafia / Syndicates that sprung up making fortunes every day.

What do you expect ? Maybe a bit of that spirit is needed in UK ? Would certainly wake a few Jobsworths and Do-gooders up ...
Don't forget also that they DO have elections now, maybe not same as UK - but people do have the vote. If they Vote for Medvedev and Putin - that's their choice.

You don't hear much about the ex military arms factories that were out of work - resurrected to produce peace-time products such as Ketchup, Plastic cartons, car parts and other non-military items ... invited in and partnered by western co's. Villages owe their continued existence to such work.

I don't agree with Putin re-instating his KGB style of leadership - but I also live and work within the framework - I may be in Latvia, but Russian Biz is still main biz for most here. His main push is to keep profits inside Russian territory. 40% of Petroleum profits were dissapearing outside Russian borders ... he altered that so that money could stay in Russia and be put back into renovation, repair, development of one of the worlds largest oil reserves ... just an example.

You run your cars ... your buses ... and soon your gas cookers by virtue of Russian exports ... a significant %age is based on Russian supplies ...

But of course - I know nothing about what I talk about ... I'm just a Fascist with them ...

 

[Searush]

Hi Nigel,
What you say is true, but their "elections" are "informed" by a state media that has virtually wiped out the nascent "free press" that was just starting to spring up after Glasnost.

Plus, much of the Mafia you speak of seem to largely be former Politburo & their cronies. Abramovic made his millions buying up oil shares for peanuts that issued to the people, who didn't understand their value.

The other problems include their unpredictable behaviour with gas supplies & minor territories that react against Moscow rule. Force tends to beget force; it is not a good scenario.

 

[mixmaster]

Don't normally get involved as it's a boat forum but saying that Russians can't live without a gov't run by a bunch of secret police thugs that rewrite history, have reinstated a mass murderer as a national hero, turn a blind eye to dissapearing journalists (being generous there) and have virtually taken all countrol over the media and judicial system is an insult to the millions of Russians, who as someone pointed out above, are generally a great bunch of people. Like everywhere else I suppose.