A small Russian-owned general cargo ship on a 10-day port call in Oslo has sparked calls from trade unions and opposition politicians to block Russian shipping to Norway.
But Norway’s centre-left government has pushed back against unilateral or regional sanctions on shipping in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Norway is seen as likely to follow the lead of the European Union on any sanctions. It also has to balance the popularity of pro-Ukrainian measures with the importance of Russian shipping and trade to the economy of some coastal communities.
Volga Shipping’s 5,000-dwt Lazurite (built 2011) called at Oslo’s Sjursoya terminal on 9 March.
It sailed from St Petersburg on 5 March with aluminium destined for the Norwegian subsidiary of German automobile parts manufacturer Benteler at Raufoss. Port agent and stevedores for the call are Pentagon Freight Services and affiliate Seafront Dockers.
A further wrinkle in the controversy is that Vladimir Lisin, the steel tycoon who controls Volga Shipping, has expressed a wish for an end to the Ukraine conflict.
On 8 March, Lisin expressed sympathy for victims of the invasion on the LinkedIn page of his Novolipetsk Steel.
“Lost lives are always a huge tragedy that is impossible to justify,” he wrote. “I am convinced that peaceful diplomatic conflict resolution is always preferable to the use of force.”
Flurry of controversy
Norwegian sources told TradeWinds the slow job of unloading is similar to that of previous such shipments and has nothing to do with protests.
“This was expected. The estimated departure is 19 March and that has not changed from the original plan,” said Ingvar Mathisen, chief executive of the Port of Oslo. Facilities at the small port are not optimised for discharge of the breakbulk cargo.
A flurry of controversy from opposition parliamentarians greeted the Lazurite’s arrival.
Labour Party Fisheries & Ocean Policy minister Bjornar Skjaeran responded to local media outlet E24 that the government is working on more stringent sanctions against the Kremlin and against oligarchs closely tied to it, but that consultation with the EU is necessary.
“There was some protest from national politicians in opposition parties, and some dockers have voiced concern. But the national government here wants to follow the EU line,” Mathisen said.
Another factor weighing on the government is that the far northern Norwegian coastal community is in some places dependent on Russian vessel calls, he added.
Pro-Ukrainian sympathies are unlikely to result in local sanctions initiatives, according to Mathisen.
“Local ports in Norway, including Oslo, are all owned by municipalities and are following ocean policy guidelines set by the Ministry of Trade, Industry & Fisheries,” he said.
Russia-flag vessels have called in Oslo about six times in the past year, Mathisen told TradeWinds, including previous shipments of aluminium and calls by small product tankers and small bulkers with grain cargos.
Nizhny Novgorod-based river-sea shipowner Volga Shipping, founded in 1843, boasts a fleet of some 300 vessels, including 60 small seagoing ships.
It did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
