Norway has approved a research voyage by the Russian vessel ”Akademik Mstislav Keldysh” off the coast of Finnmark.
According to the application, the Russian research ship will examine sediments on the Norwegian continental shelf. The permit has been signed by the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy (OED). Russia will use the research ship in the period from 4 November to 18 December.
This is the same area where the Snøhvit and Goliat oil and gas fields and the fiber cable to Svalbard are located. This caused the political opposition to react, and Christian Tybring Gjedde from the Progress Party asked MFA Espen Barth Eide (Labor) for an answer as to why Norway allows this in the Norwegian economic zone in the Barents Sea; […]
He points out that Norway must consent to research expeditions outside territorial waters, i.e., in Norway’s economic zone and on the continental shelf. In these areas, Norway can only refuse access in some instances.
”For example, if it is not really a question of pure scientific research but of exploiting or mapping resources. The limited opportunity we have to refuse scientific marine research must be seen in the context that the economic zone and continental shelf are not part of the territory of Norway but an area of the sea where Norway has certain rights. Beyond this, the freedom to navigate applies,” explains Barth Eide. Läs artikel