5 suspected spy ships spotted in the Belgian sector of the North Sea during the past 6 months
During the past 6 months at least 5 ships that the Belgian security services suspect of involvement in espionage have sailed through the Belgian sector of the North Sea. Based on information from the Maritime Security Cell, VRT News has discovered that the suspect ships also include fishing vessels.
The Maritime Security Cell’s Thomas De Spiegelaere told VRT News that "Espionage is now more difficult to detect. Where previously mainly research vessels or military ships were used, now non-military ships are being used more and more. These include merchant ships, but they can also be fishing vessels. This makes detection much more difficult".
The office of the Federal Minister reponisble for the North Sea Paul Van Tigchelt (liberal) confirms that the use of non-military vessels for espionage is a growing trend. "For example, Chinese dredgers have dual status and can be also be used for military ends. This of course does not make detection any easier."
Norebo
The Belgian security services are currently monitoring the Russian shipping company Norebo. The company has more than 40 fishing vessels. These are used to fish or cod and pollock in the Norwegian Sea, the Barents Sea and the Pacific Ocean. One of Norebo's vessels, the Taurus, has been linked to espionage in the past. In late 2022 the Taurus was found to be making "unusual movements" that coincided with the surfacing of US submarines.
The Maritime Security Cell confirms that it is monitoring the movements of Norebo’s ships. Norebo’s fleet includes the Kapitan Sokolov that has been spotted several times in the Belgian sector of the North Sea. "It is a ship with a lot of technology on board. This can be used both for fishing and possibly also for espionage activities", Mr De Spiegelaere told VRT News.
Norebo itself denies any involvement in espionage.