The 190-kilometer opening stage around the Varanger fjord took place close to Norway’s northern borders with Finland and Russia.
The drilling of two wells in remote Arctic waters is basis for an international meeting of oilmen.
Gazpromneft Marine Bunker, a subsidiary of oil company Gazprom Neft, files a bankruptcy petition against the once very powerful regional company.
About 30 top-trained servicemen from the Northern Fleet are taking part in a major exploratory operation through the northern parts of the Arctic archipelago.
One Norwegian krone was traded at 8,1 rubles Tuesday morning. Cross-border traffic between Murmansk and Kirkenes is now at its lowest since 2012.
Travel
Nobody wanted to buy tickets on what was supposed to be the first direct flight from Murmansk.
28 new ships by 2022:
28 (and counting) new expedition ships capable of sailing Arctic waters are coming to the market over the next four years.
Visitors from the People’s Republic pour in, but the Arctic region of Murmansk won’t benefit, says controversial Member of Parliament Vitaly Milonov.
The Barents Observer Newsletter
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The 190-kilometer opening stage around the Varanger fjord took place close to Norway’s northern borders with Finland and Russia.
The drilling of two wells in remote Arctic waters is basis for an international meeting of oilmen.
Gazpromneft Marine Bunker, a subsidiary of oil company Gazprom Neft, files a bankruptcy petition against the once very powerful regional company.
About 30 top-trained servicemen from the Northern Fleet are taking part in a major exploratory operation through the northern parts of the Arctic archipelago.
Partners
Siste/ mest lest
Security
Last year, China and Russia had a joint naval exercise in the Baltic Sea. Now, possible practical forms of cooperation are discussed with the Northern Fleet.
With a length of 136 meters, the three will be the largest Coast Guard vessels sailing the European Arctic.
Strong-worded message from Russia’s Oslo Embassy warns about consequences of U.S. Marines based in Norway.
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One Norwegian krone was traded at 8,1 rubles Tuesday morning. Cross-border traffic between Murmansk and Kirkenes is now at its lowest since 2012.
Science expedition sails north to find link between formation of Arctic clouds and record heatwave and drought on mainland Sweden.
Eyes on Barents
In the north Russian region, people are protesting against the «import» of household garbage from the capital.
After 41 years on the force, retiring deputy head of the Lapland Police Department Seppo Kinnunen is worried how his team will cope in the future. He says the large distances and lack of resources in the north already have his unit extremely overextended.
The oldest of the Soviet navy’s barges for storing spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste has safely arrived for long-term storage at the Saida Bay facility on the Kola Peninsula.
Russia doubles its production of liquified natural gas from the Arctic as a second plant in the Yamal LNG is launched this week. This is only the start, says company Novatek.
Norwegian radiation watchdog says its round-the-clock alert-readiness is prepared to act in case of accident.
Pressure on the northern Schengen-border intensifies as several groups of migrants are detained in Russian Arctic borderlands.
PHOTOS
Norwegian Sea King rescue helicopter exercising evacuation of people found at sea to a Coast Guard vessel. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
"OV Bøkfjord" - Operated by Norwegian Coastal Administration - participates in collecting oil spill at sea. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Bent-Ove Jamtli is Director of the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre of North Norway. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Coordinating radio traffic on the bridge of "KV Barentshav" during exercise Barents 2018. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
The Russian navy vessel "Elbrus" exercising oil spill cleanup with lense and skimmer. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Key players in exercise Barents 2018, Norwegians and Russians. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Norwegian offshore and tug vessel "Far Sabre" with oil spill lense. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Jan Pedersen is Senior Advisor with the Norwegian Coastal Administration's Centre for Emergency Preparedness. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Fast-roping to the deck of the Norwegian Coast Guard ship "KV Barentshav" from a Russian Mi-8 helicopter operating for the rescue service based in Murmansk. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Norwegian Coast Guard vessel "Farm" sailing in pair with a FSB Coast Guard vessel. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Two of the "missing people" in the exercise were found on board this lift raft. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
In search for the "missing life raft" - Norwegian and Russian military and civilian ships and helicopters participated. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Fast-roping evacuation from a SAR-vessel to the helicopter. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Preparing for fast-roping from a rescue helicopter. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Lifting people to helicopter for evacuation is part of the exercise. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
A few of the "survivors" are safely on board a Coast Guard vessel. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Smile for cooperation: Captain on bridge Frode Urke (left) and Head of the Northern Fleet's exercise unit Aleksandr Ulyanov (in the middle). Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Speedy working boat shuttles people in between the Norwegian and Russian participating ships. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
The Russian Northern Fleet's new logistics support ship "Elbrus" and the civilian offfshore- and tug vessel "Umka" (in the horizon). Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Norwegian Coast Guard vessel "Farm" with oil spill lense. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Igor Makeev is Captain Coordinator with Murmansk Sea Rescue Centre. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Coast Guard officer on watch. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
From the bridge of "KV Barentshav" team coordinators watching oil-spill cleanup practicing by the Norwegian vessel "Far Sabre" towing a lense in the sea. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
This special equipped aircraft can both search for people at sea and possible oil-spill. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
This special equipped aircraft can both search for people at sea and possible oil-spill. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Norwegian Coast Guard vessel "KV Farm" and a Russian FSB Coast Guard vessel. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Chief on "KV Barentshav" Frode Urke (left), Coordinator Captain for Murmansk Sea Rescue Centre Igor Makeev and Head of Northern Fleet exercise unit Aleksandr Ulyanov (right). Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Exercise coordination room onboard Coast Guard vessel "KV Barentshav". Photo: Thomas Nilsen
With view to Teriberka. Photo: Atle Staalesen
Teriberka municipal administration building. Photo: Atle Staalesen
Kiting in Teriberka. Photo: Atle Staalesen
Snowmobile town Teriberka. Photo: Atle Staalesen
Walking in Teriberka. Photo: Atle Staalesen
Heading out for cross-country skiing. Photo: Atle Staalesen
Welcome to Teriberka. Photo: Atle Staalesen
Views to Teriberka. Photo: Atle Staalesen
Local life in Teriberka. Photo: Atle Staalesen
Speeding with home-made snowmobile. Photo: Atle Staalesen
Walking with the dog. Photo: Atle Staalesen
Military parade in Murmansk. Photo: Atle Staalesen
Military parade in Murmansk. Photo: Atle Staalesen
Military parade in Murmansk. Photo: Atle Staalesen
Military parade in Murmansk. Photo: Atle Staalesen
Military parade in Murmansk. Photo: Atle Staalesen
Military parade in Murmansk. Photo: Atle Staalesen
Military parade in Murmansk. Photo: Atle Staalesen
Military parade in Murmansk. Photo: Atle Staalesen
Military parade in Murmansk. Photo: Atle Staalesen
Military parade in Murmansk. Photo: Atle Staalesen
Northern Fleet Head Commander Nikolay Yevmenov. Photo: Atle Staalesen
Military parade in Murmansk. Photo: Atle Staalesen
Military parade in Murmansk. Photo: Atle Staalesen
Military parade in Murmansk. Photo: Atle Staalesen
Eyes on Barents
There is no more white fish in the Ob, says a resident in one of the tundra settlements located near a new Yamal oil terminal.
The Ukrainian film director is on hunger strike for 88 days in the remote Russian Arctic prison of Labytnangi.
Eight Northern Fleet vessels sail out from the Kola Peninsula heading northeast on a long-distance Arctic voyage.
Russian geological research ships are soon on their way to the Laptev Sea.
State oil company Rosneft says it intends to build two major dry-docks for Arctic oil platforms in Shipyard No 82 in Roslyakovo.
It will be owned by nuclear power company Rosatom and serve the northernmost mine in the world.
Eyes on Barents
A young Sámi artist from Inari, Finland, made images of what Sápmi, the land of the Sámi, might look like in a hundred years. Sunna Kitti’s works of art are partly gloomy, but they also show a spirit of hope and community.
It was early morning 10th October 1957 when Captain Georgy Lazarev slowly sailed his «S-144» submarine into the quiet waters of the Chernaya Guba to conduct the first ever launch of a nuclear torpedo. More than 60 years later, his devastating blast is honoured with a monument on site.
After parading at Navy Day in St. Petersburg, four warships are this weekend sailing into Scandinavian waters.
Svalbard:
Norwegian Coast Guard crew shocked by the amount of plastic waste along the shore at a remote Svalbard island.
Average temperature in Lapland was five degrees higher than normal.
Flying just a few feet above the surface, the wing-in-ground-effect craft could patrol huge areas where infrastructure is weakly developed.
Natural gas company Novatek has spud its first ever offshore Arctic well on the spot where it intends to develop its third Arctic LNG project.
Eyes on Barents
A wide cast net has been spread on the cliff on the Skoltefossen Falls near the mouth of the River Neiden in Norway. The Skolt Sámi have fished with such a cast net, also known as käpälä (“the paw”), on the River Neiden for centuries.
Last year, China and Russia had a joint naval exercise in the Baltic Sea. Now, possible practical forms of cooperation are discussed with the Northern Fleet.
It is a sign of our joint spirituality and patriotism, members of a Russian expedition say as they set out on a tour from the North Pole to Montenegro.
Russia’s first floating nuclear power plant will be thoroughly tested before towing to the north Siberian port of Pevek.
The bear attacked a person from a cruise vessel on Sjuøyene north of Nordaustlandet.
Barents Must-Reads
The big winds that come in from the Barents Sea carry flush green power and profits. But developers are held back by sparse infrastructure. And a growing opposition from local groups.
Smile for military cooperation: Chief Officer at «KV Barentshav» Frode Urke (left) and Head of the Northern Fleet's exercise unit Aleksandr Ulyanov (in the middle) are happy to work together in the Barents Sea. The scenario is realistic; missing people and people in distress at sea and prevention of oil spill pollution.
Singer Vladimir Martynenko from Murmansk used to tour neighbouring Scandinavia with Russian ballades about faith and love. He was arrested and spent more than 2 years in Lefortovo after refusing to cooperate with the Federal Security Service.
The floating nuclear power plant «Akademik Lomonosov» now under tow towards Murmansk marks the start of a comprehensive utilization of nuclear energy in the Russian Arctic. New submarines, surface warships, icebreakers, seabed- and onshore mini-reactors as well as nuclear-powered military weapons are all queuing up in record speed. The Barents Observer gives you the overview.
It will be built by Italians and produce enough electricity for a quarter of the Murmansk population. But the Russian Arctic region might not really need it.
Olenya Bay on the coast of the Barents Sea is home to a fleet of nuclear powered spy submarines and surface vessels which NATO now says are dramatically stepping up activities around undersea data cables in the North Atlantic.