In December 2024, Mariia Vladymyrova was asked by Danwatch, a major investigative outlet of Denmark, to comment on the relationship between the Russian fishing industry and the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB). The investigation revealed that Norebo’s shipyards had signed three contracts for the servicing and repair of FSB vessels.
Previously, several ships from the Norebo Group had been suspected of espionage in Dutch waters, leading the Netherlands to close several ports to Russian fishing trawlers and reefer ships. These vessels had been operating under other states’ flags to evade comprehensive sanctions banning Russian-flagged ships from entering EU ports.
These developments indicate a further militarization of Russia’s civilian fleet, as outlined in the 2022 Maritime Doctrine of the Russian Federation. First, Russian civilian ships and their crews must be prepared for rapid mobilization in the event of war or a threat of war. Second, newly built civilian vessels must be designed with military adaptability in mind. Finally, civilian fleet crews undergo mobilization training to ensure readiness for naval deployment. In effect, the Soviet Navy utilised the same strategy using their fishing fleet and infrastructure as a dual-use asset, primarily for surveillance purposes.
Mariia Vladymyrova concludes that this doctrine sets Russia apart from comparable national contingency plans, including those in Europe, by establishing a framework for the military use of the civilian fleet in peacetime. The case of Norebo highlights how Russia’s hybrid maritime threats may become increasingly urgent for Europe, as the Russian government continues its efforts to coerce European states into accepting its terms for conflict resolution in Ukraine.
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Fish king has also had Russia’s intelligence service as a customer
