The Russian research vessel "Professor Molchanov" was arrested in Barentsburg, Spitsbergen, and prohibited from leaving its mooring. The decision to arrest was made on August 31 by the Nord-Troms District Court, and on September 2, Norwegian authorities enforced it.
According to the court's decision, the vessel is prohibited from leaving Barentsburg until a corresponding decision by the Governor of Spitsbergen. "Professor Molchanov" must remain at its current mooring until the further fate of the restrictions is determined by Norwegian authorities.
The arrest was applied as an interim measure within the framework of enforcing an arbitration decision regarding the company's assets related to Crimea.
The head of the Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East and Arctic, Alexey Chekunkov, announced that the lawyers of the Arktikugol Trust intend to challenge the decision. This refers to the legal service of the Russian state trust, which operates in Spitsbergen and is responsible for the activities of Russian enterprises and facilities on the archipelago. It is with this Russian presence that the regular transport route served by "Professor Molchanov" is associated. Arktikugol's lawyers must prepare a legal position and assess the actions of the Norwegian authorities.
According to Chekunkov, the vessel and its crew are safe. The Russian side intends to seek the annulment of the arrest decision through established legal procedures.
Members of the Russian expedition learned about the arrest from media reports. At the time of the detention, "Professor Molchanov" was in Barentsburg as part of an expedition by the Russian Geographical Society dedicated to studying Russian heritage in Spitsbergen.
"Professor Molchanov" is not an ordinary transport vessel, but a research vessel of Roshydromet. It was built in 1982 in Finland according to the design of "Akademik Shuleykin" type vessels. The vessel is designed for comprehensive research in oceanography, meteorology, hydrochemistry, and biology. It is equipped with specialized laboratories, hydrological equipment, and cargo devices, which allows it to be used for various scientific works in the Arctic.
The vessel has an ice class Arc 5 and is designed for navigation in an unrestricted area. Its length is 71.06 meters, and its gross tonnage is 1753 tons.
In addition to scientific expeditions, "Professor Molchanov" is used for cargo and passenger transportation to Spitsbergen. The vessel has been making regular voyages to the archipelago since June 2025.
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