The Taimyr: Crew Feedback and Vessel Data

The 'Taimyr', a vessel blacklisted by both the United States and Ukraine due to its role in the transportation of Russian weapons, docked at Barentsburg, Svalbard on December 22, 2025. The ship departed from Murmansk five days earlier, on December 19. Following its brief stay, the 'Taimyr' returned to the open sea on December 26 en route back to Murmansk. Owned and operated by TC Nord Project, a shipping company located in Arkhangelsk, the vessel and its operating firm were sanctioned by both Ukraine and the US in May 2022 for facilitating Russian arms transport. Notably, neither the EU nor Norway has imposed sanctions on TC Nord Project or its fleet. The nature of the cargo carried by the 'Taimyr' during its recent visit to Barentsburg remains unclear; however, it is suspected that the recipient was Arktikugol, the state-owned coal mining company responsible for managing Barentsburg, a Russian settlement situated on the Norwegian Arctic archipelago. Governed by Norwegian law under the Svalbard Treaty, Barentsburg has faced scrutiny regarding its dealings. In a related incident, the 'Kapitan Yakovlev', another vessel linked to Russian weapon deliveries in the Black Sea, visited the Norwegian archipelago in September. This ship is under the ownership of the Northern Shipping Company, which became subject to US and Ukrainian sanctions back in May 2022. In 2023 and 2025, the 'Kapitan Yakovlev' was seen making port calls in Sevastopol and Novorossiisk; notably, it deactivated its AIS as it entered the occupied Sevastopol port.

On April 28, 2021, a notable fire incident erupted aboard the vessel 'Taimyr' while docked at the port of Arkhangelsk. Initial reports indicated that smoke was detected emanating from the ship's second cargo hold, where a container's packaging was engulfed in flames. The affected area of the fire spanned approximately 10 square meters. In response to the emergency, a dedicated fire brigade quickly arrived on the scene, deploying nine firefighting units and a team of 33 skilled firefighters. Fortunately, the ship's onboard fire extinguishing system was promptly activated to help contain the blaze.