The majestic “Sedov” was planned to visit Tromsø and Kirkenes in late April as part of the 70 years anniversary for the end of WWII. A couple of weeks before the planned visits, organizers in both towns were informed that the visits had been cancelled.
For the organizers in Kirkenes, who had invested a lot of time in preparing a grand reception for the vessel, the cancellation was as a big disappointment. “We don’t know the reasons for the cancellation. The decision was made on top ministerial level in Russia,” Hans Hatle says to Sør-Varanger Avis.
There have been speculations that the cancellations are a result of the current political situation in general and an answer to Norway’s reaction to Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin’s visit to Svalbard in particular, Sunnmørsposten writes.
“Sedov” is a 117 meters 4-masted steel barque built in Germany in 1921. It sails as a training vessel for cadets from Murmansk State Technical University.
“This has nothing to do with politics”, Rector of Murmansk State Technical University Sergey Agarkov says to Murmansky Vestnik. “Simply, there are certain requirements to the cadets’ practice. This voyage was supposed to take 40 days including 8 days in different ports. Because of a storm, the vessel had to spend six days in a bay. Therefore, together with the Russian Federal Fisheries Agency we decided to cancel the port calls to Tromsø and Kirkenes.”
“Sedov” has now arrived in port of Murmansk, where it will be open for the public daily until May 17 before heading out to sea again. The vessel is planned to take part in Tall Ships Races from Ålesund to Kristiansand in Norway this summer, according to the vessel’s schedule.
BarentsObserver has tried to get a comment from both Murmansk State Technical University and the vessel’s press service, but e-mails have not been answered.
