Murmansk based tall ship got port ban to Norway

23.07.2008 Because of reasons unknown to us, the Russian foreign ministry has decided that the Sedov won't be allowed to call at harbours in Norway, says Murmansk State Technical University.

It’s the web-site of Murmansk State Technical University which informs about the surprising decision made by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Sedov is the worlds largest four-masted tall ship and operates as a training ship for the Murmansk State Technical University. Sedov participate in the European Tall Ships' Race.

The Sedov was expected to call at the two Norwegian harbours of Måløy on August 1 and in Bergen on August 9, the newspaper Aftenposten writes.

- Sedov have been given instructions from home... we have no idea what's going on, Per Langhelle, chairman of one of Norway's tall ships, Statsraad Lehmkuhl, told the web site of the regional newspaper Bergens Tidende.

The Sedov, and another Russian tall ship, the Kruzenshtern, is also ordered not to tie up at ports in England and Ireland in addition to Norway.

Photo: MSTU