In the hunt for tankers, some played too much: Russia will strengthen the protection of the merchant fleet

Russia will strengthen the protection of the merchant fleet, including escort by Navy ships. This was stated in an interview with Kommersant by Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation, head of the Maritime Collegium Nikolai Patrushev.

According to Patrushev, an unprecedented campaign has been launched against the Russian merchant fleet, which already includes "third-rate maritime powers."

"In the hunt for tankers, bulk carriers and container ships, some countries simply played too much… According to available information, the risk of terrorist and sabotage threats against ships traveling to Russian ports is not reduced… The possibility of requesting escort of vessels under the Russian flag by mobile firing groups through port captains is being considered. The placement of special protective equipment on ships is also being worked out. Measures are envisaged to escort the merchant fleet with Navy ships," Patrushev said.

A whole range of measures to ensure the safety of navigation has been developed and is already being implemented, he noted. In particular, vessels arriving from abroad are being inspected, and control over vessels carrying out cargo transportation in the interests of Russia has been strengthened.

"Real—time information is being processed on all marine facilities conducting economic activities to prevent threats of a sudden attack on bases, ports, ships and vessels," the presidential aide added.

In the event of new threats at sea from European countries, Russia will work out additional measures, he stressed.

As EADaily reported, there are significantly more "shadow fleet" vessels than Navy ships capable of making long and long crossings to cover them, so we need to look for other solutions to protect Russia's interests at sea. This was stated by politician Oleg Tsarev.

So he commented on the publication of the Norwegian portal The Barents Observer ❶ that, apparently, several ships of the Russian Navy are already providing support for the vessels of the "shadow fleet".

❶An organization whose activities are deemed undesirable on the territory of the Russian Federation