The Royal Navy recently had to take action against a Russian cargo ship that was anchored dangerously close to vital undersea telecoms cables. The Sinegorsk, a major Russian vessel, had anchored just two miles from Minehead, a town in the UK. This was a cause for concern as the cables connect the UK to other countries such as the US, Canada, Spain, and Portugal.
The ship claimed to be conducting "essential safety repairs," but the Royal Navy wasn't convinced. They immediately sent out a RN Wildcat attack helicopter to chase the Sinegorsk away from the area and back into open waters. This move was necessary as the ship's close proximity to the cables posed a significant threat.
The Sinegorsk had left a major Russian port earlier in the week and had anchored near Minehead on Tuesday, staying until Wednesday afternoon. This close call has prompted government officials to speak out about the dangers the UK faces from Russia and its leader, Vladimir Putin.
Alicia Kearns, the Shadow Security Minister, expressed her concerns about the suspicious movements of the Russian ship. While it is not believed to be part of Russia's "shadow fleet," the Sinegorsk's actions have raised alarms. It is just one of many ships that have entered UK waters in recent months, including a sanctioned Russian tanker that sailed through the English Channel under a false name.
The Arcusat, which was sanctioned by the US in 2024, was flying a Cameroonian flag and had previously used the names "Tia" and "Tavian." It left a port near Izmir, Turkey on December 30 and was thought to be heading towards Russia. Rachel Ellehuus, the director-general of the Royal United Services Institute, has warned that the UK needs to be more aware of these "state threats."
At a recent event discussing UK foreign policy challenges, she stated that Russia's shadow fleet and other tactics will continue to be a threat. She emphasized the need for resilience and redundancy in critical systems, such as lines of communications and shipping lanes, to combat these threats.
Russia has a history of interfering in European affairs, and the situation has only worsened with the invasion of Ukraine. Every day, hundreds of unregulated and unsafe tankers, carrying oil from Russia to countries like China and India, sail through European waters. These vessels intentionally disable their identification systems, tamper with their location, and falsify registry documentation to avoid sanctions.
As of early this year, it was estimated that one sixth of the world's active tanker fleet was owned by Russian operators using obscure flags and shell companies. The number of vessels exceeded 900, leading the European Union to introduce regulations to address the issue. By July, 444 shadow fleet vessels had been designated by the EU.
Overall, the incident with the Sinegorsk highlights the ongoing threat posed by Russia and its shadow fleet. The UK and other European countries must remain vigilant and take necessary actions to protect their vital systems and infrastructure.
