Russian sub claims must be addressed

Russian sub claims must be addressed

29 April 2015

THE Russian embassy has been asked to respond to claims one of its submarines was responsible for almost sinking an Ardglass prawn trawler.

The crew of the Karen claim their nets were snagged by a submarine while fishing in the Irish Sea almost two weeks ago. Only the quick actions of skipper Paul Murphy and his three-man crew prevented the vessel from being pulled under the water.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) was asked to confirm if one of its vessels was involved in the terrifying incident but has denied any involvement, claiming there were no submarines within 150 miles of the April 17 incident.

Dick James, chief executive of the Northern Ireland Fish Producers Organisation, has raised the incident with the Russian embassy and expressed concern that a foreign submarine can get into the confines of the Irish Sea “and not be detected.”

While the Ministry of Defence has refused to speculate about the nationality of the submarine believed to have been involved in the incident, Mr James has contacted the Russian embassy as investigations continue into exactly what happened 18 miles off the Ardglass coast.

The fishermen’s leader is also seeking a meeting with Stormont Fisheries Minister Michelle O’Neill and confirmed he is in possession of a document which outlines the nationality of submarines which took part in a major NATO exercise off the Scottish coast two weeks ago involving British, Dutch, Belgian, Turkish, German, Norwegian, Polish and French submarines. 

Mr. James said none of the vessels were in the area where the Ardglass trawler had its net snagged and he was always of the opinion they were not involved.

He continued: “The MoD is very open these days about the location of its submarines and operates very strict protocols. If one of its or another NATO sub was involved in the incident involving the Karen it would have surfaced.

“I always suspected an MoD sub was not involved and this has now been confirmed. Clearly the Joint Warrior exercise was a magnet for Russian surveillance given the current tensions which exist at the moment.”

Mr. James said there is concern a Russian sub could make its way in to the Irish Sea “presumably undetected,” explaining it was not illegal for it to be there as part of the international convention for the law of the seas.

He continued: “I have raised the trawler incident directly with the Russian embassy in the UK and have not yet had a response. In the absence of one, concerns remain amongst the Ardglass fishing fleet about such an incident possibly happening again.

“I believe a Russian sub would not have been in the Irish Sea if the NATO exercise had not been taking place. I think the exercise was the magnet that attracted it.”

Mr James said he will continue to press the Russian embassy for a response and plans further discussions with the Marine Accident Investigation Branch and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

He added: “Fishermen remain concerned about putting to sea in the wake of the recent incident which is quite understandable. It’s hard to placate their concerns at this time. Safety at sea is paramount and only for the quick actions of the crew of the Karen we could easily have had a tragedy on our hands. 

“I feel for the Ardglass fishermen. They face a terrible conundrum in the wake of what happened given we came so close to disaster. I fully understand the recent incident is making those who earn a living at sea very nervous at this particular time.”