Norwegian Fisherman 'Catches' Submarine with His Net
A nuclear-powered submarine, the USS Virginia, has reportedly become entangled in halibut nets off the coast of Tromso, Norway. Read Full Article at RT.com.
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A fishing vessel from Tromso caught 200 kg of halibut and, unexpectedly, 7,800 tons of a US submarine.
A nuclear-powered US submarine reportedly became entangled in a fishing net off Norway's northern coast, resulting in a memorable anecdote for one local fisherman, but ultimately disrupting his halibut catch.
The Oygutt, based in Tromso, initially landed approximately 200 kg of halibut on Monday morning and set out its nets again in hopes of a similar yield. Instead, captain Harald Engen “hauled in” a 7,800-ton missile submarine.
“We were on our way back to the fish farm on Sommaroya when we were called up by the Coast Guard,” Engen recounted to the Norwegian broadcaster NRK. “A submarine had gone into our halibut net, and dragged it two nautical miles northward into the sea.”
The fishing gear’s remnants included a buoy. “The net is at the bottom of the sea,” added Engen, 22. “It is gone, and we will probably never find it again.”
Coast Guard spokesman Kenneth Dahl confirmed the encounter with a submarine to NRK.
The incident is believed to involve the USS Virginia, a fast-attack submarine equipped with nuclear reactors and cruise missiles, Norwegian media reported. The submarine was in Tromso as part of a mission to “deter and defend the increasingly complex security environment of the High North,” according to a statement from the US Navy.
On Monday, the submarine’s propellers got caught in Engen’s net, but it took a few days for Norwegian media and the US Navy to acknowledge the occurrence.
Lieutenant Pierson Hawkins, a spokesperson for the US 6th Fleet, stated to Business Insider that the incident is under investigation and did not confirm the identity of the submarine involved.
“I have heard of other vessels going over net links, but no one out here has heard of a submarine doing that,” Engen shared with NRK, acknowledging that this would make for an entertaining story at the local pub.
Although he held no grudge against the Americans, Engen expressed a hope to have the costly equipment replaced. He may need to navigate some bureaucracy first. Hawkins mentioned that “when the US is responsible for damage to civilian equipment, there is a claims process to reimburse the expense.”
Norway, a founding member of NATO, shares a border with Russia in the Arctic region. The US has frequently deployed naval vessels to the area, primarily in response to Russian naval activities.
Camille Lefevre for TROIB News
A nuclear-powered US submarine reportedly became entangled in a fishing net off Norway's northern coast, resulting in a memorable anecdote for one local fisherman, but ultimately disrupting his halibut catch.
The Oygutt, based in Tromso, initially landed approximately 200 kg of halibut on Monday morning and set out its nets again in hopes of a similar yield. Instead, captain Harald Engen “hauled in” a 7,800-ton missile submarine.
“We were on our way back to the fish farm on Sommaroya when we were called up by the Coast Guard,” Engen recounted to the Norwegian broadcaster NRK. “A submarine had gone into our halibut net, and dragged it two nautical miles northward into the sea.”
The fishing gear’s remnants included a buoy. “The net is at the bottom of the sea,” added Engen, 22. “It is gone, and we will probably never find it again.”
Coast Guard spokesman Kenneth Dahl confirmed the encounter with a submarine to NRK.
The incident is believed to involve the USS Virginia, a fast-attack submarine equipped with nuclear reactors and cruise missiles, Norwegian media reported. The submarine was in Tromso as part of a mission to “deter and defend the increasingly complex security environment of the High North,” according to a statement from the US Navy.
On Monday, the submarine’s propellers got caught in Engen’s net, but it took a few days for Norwegian media and the US Navy to acknowledge the occurrence.
Lieutenant Pierson Hawkins, a spokesperson for the US 6th Fleet, stated to Business Insider that the incident is under investigation and did not confirm the identity of the submarine involved.
“I have heard of other vessels going over net links, but no one out here has heard of a submarine doing that,” Engen shared with NRK, acknowledging that this would make for an entertaining story at the local pub.
Although he held no grudge against the Americans, Engen expressed a hope to have the costly equipment replaced. He may need to navigate some bureaucracy first. Hawkins mentioned that “when the US is responsible for damage to civilian equipment, there is a claims process to reimburse the expense.”
Norway, a founding member of NATO, shares a border with Russia in the Arctic region. The US has frequently deployed naval vessels to the area, primarily in response to Russian naval activities.
Camille Lefevre for TROIB News
