Two Chinese heavy-lift vessels take shelter in Norwegian waters amid storm
Two large Chinese-flagged ships sought refuge behind Andøya after bad weather forced them from international waters, and the Norwegian Coast Guard boarded them for inspection.
Two massive Chinese-owned vessels, the deck-cargo ship Ya Qing Hai Yang and the heavy-load carrier Jian Yang Cheng He, moved from international waters into Norwegian sea space southeast of Andøya to escape severe weather. The Norwegian Coast Guard boarded both ships, carrying out standard inspections after the vessels requested shelter. Authorities expect the ships to stay in the protected area until at least the middle of the week while conditions calm. The Ya Qing Hai Yang, nearly 154 m long, flies a Guatemalan flag and is equipped with several large cranes, while the Jian Yang Cheng He measures about 130 m by 28 m. Both have a history of transporting equipment for Russia’s sanctioned energy projects and are listed on U.S. and EU sanctions registers, raising questions about their cargo and destination.
Why it matters
The incident highlights how sanctioned Chinese vessels use neutral ports for shelter, prompting scrutiny of their cargo and routes.
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