EDITOR’S NOTE (Nick Stamatakis): A few days ago, we saw something that would have been almost unthinkable a couple of decades ago: Two British warships collided in Bahrein, marking a shameful day in the long British maritime tradition (video below)… But we were not surprised. For years, we have been monitoring the news that one of the two – and finally both – British Aircraft carriers were decommissioned, and there were enough parts to repair them… The same goes for the British nuclear submarines. Then, just a month ago, our jaw dropped when we saw an ad, yes an ad in a paper, of the British Navy looking for a commander for a nuclear submarine – as if they were looking for a secretary!… Finally, last week, it was the icing on the cake – and as always, it has to do with the greatest vice – arrogance: For about 70 years, the Russians allowed the British fishing boats to fish on the northern shores of Russia. And fish they did – over 48,000 tons of cod and whitefish!! Russians took their time – they are known not to be vindictive but rather peaceful giants… But finally, they realized that they have to respond in kind to the West’s sanctions… Goodbye, affordable “fish and chips”!!
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source – themaritime-executive.com
Help Wanted: Royal Navy Uses LinkedIn to Find New Head of Nuclear Subs
The Royal Navy’s submarine service has a long and proud history, including decades of experience operating nuclear-armed subs – the stealthiest, most dangerous vessels at sea. It does not, however, appear to have a clear line of succession for its next top officer: the service has come in for scathing criticism after turning to LinkedIn to recruit a new manager for the UK’s underwater nuclear arsenal.
In December, the Royal Navy posted a job advertisement online seeking a “Director of Submarines.” Responsibilities include “highly classified stealth, elite operations and Trident, our nuclear deterrent.” The position also has oversight of all of the UK’s highly technical submarine repair and acquisition programs.
Required qualifications for this rear admiral-level position include current service with the reserve forces or previous active-duty service, prior command of a submarine, and availability to start in April 2024. The Royal Navy is willing to consider former officers who last served at the rank of captain, two ranks below the pay grade for the position. The pay is commensurate with the role’s serious responsibilities: $190,000 per year.
Perhaps hoping that the LinkedIn community might have hiring tips, the service asked members of the general public if they “know someone is up for the task” of managing the UK’s six attack subs and four nuclear-missile subs.
The news of the unfilled vacancy will be of interest to the UK’s primary regional competitor, Russia, and to up-and-coming naval power China. It will also be noted in Australia: the UK Director of Submarines is the lead officer for the AUKUS joint submarine acquisition program on the British side. The AUKUS plan calls for purchasing U.S.-built Virginia-class boats followed by UK-designed subs later in the 2030s.
One UK military source told The Independent that the Royal Navy was not able to find a suitable candidate in-house, and that the ad was an “unprecedented” step.
Many NATO nations’ maritime forces are struggling to recruit, including the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard. The Royal Navy’s recruitment numbers fell by more than 20 percent year-on-year in 2023, and its end strength head count fell by about four percent over the same period.
The shortfall in personnel poses a generational challenge to the service. Multiple outlets report that the Royal Navy has decided to decommission two older frigates, sister ships HMS Westminster and HMS Argyll, in order to cross-deck the crews to newbuilds that are soon to deliver
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Russia ends a fisheries agreement with the UK which allowed British fishing vessels to operate in specific areas of the Barents Sea
Russian Cabinet Approves Denunciation of Long-Standing Fisheries Agreement with the UK
In a move signalling a shift in international relations, the Russian Government has given its approval to a draft law denouncing the long-standing fisheries agreement with the United Kingdom.
The decision comes in response to the termination of Russia’s most favoured nation trade status by the UK in March 2022.
The 1956 fisheries agreement, originally established between the USSR and the United Kingdom, granted British fishing boats the right to operate in specific areas of the Barents Sea along the Kola Peninsula’s coast. Even after the dissolution of the USSR, the agreement remained in force as Russia succeeded the Soviet Union.
The Russian Cabinet has now cited the termination of the most favoured nation trade status as the primary reason for denouncing the agreement, leading to a ban on British fishing in the waters of the Barents Sea. The Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have jointly submitted a corresponding bill to the government apparatus.
This denunciation marks a significant diplomatic move, as it is the first international food treaty to be terminated. The Russian government is prepared to sever the agreement that permitted British vessels to fish in the Barents Sea. The bill was presented to the Commission on Legislative Activities of the Cabinet of Ministers on January 15 and has received government support, according to sources in the Cabinet.
The 1956 fisheries agreement allowed Great Britain fishing rights in the waters of the Barents Sea along the coast of the Kola Peninsula, mainland areas east of Cape Kanin Nos, as well as around the island of Kolguev. The agreement, initially set for a five-year period with the possibility of extension, specified that it would remain in force until one of the parties decided to terminate it.
In documents submitted to the Commission, the government emphasised that the denunciation of the agreement would not lead to severe foreign policy or economic consequences for the Russian Federation. The move is seen as a reciprocal measure after the UK excluded Russia from its most favored nation trade status in March 2023. The UK had imposed an additional 35 percent tariff on certain Russian goods, including copper and vodka, aiming to inflict maximum damage on the Russian economy while minimising negative consequences for itself, as stated by the leadership of the UK//(Source).
German Zverev, president of the All-Russia Fisheries Association (VARPE), said that VARPE supports the decision. Zverev recalled that an article in the agreement stipulates that one of the parties may denounce the agreement, and that this does not constitute a violation of international law.
Zverev said that since the agreement is predominantly unilateral, and there are no commensurate benefits for Russia, the consequences of denunciation would affect only the second party, Great Britain, which would not be able to fish in the Barents Sea.
“We understand this to be the response of the Russian authorities to the unfriendly actions of Britain. The country imposed sanctions against Russia in the summer of 2022 that include an additional levy of 35% to import domestic whitefish. Our country enjoyed most favored nation status within the World Trade Organization prior to this,” Zverev said.
Zverev said that the duty on domestic whitefish has reduced the price attractiveness of Russian fish for UK processors and distributors. Meantime, for example, the UK imported 432,000 tonnes of whitefish totalling around $1 billion in 2020, with 48,000 tonnes, over 11%, coming from Russia. Moreover, a significant proportion of Chinese whitefish exports to the UK, 33%, were of Russian provenance//(Source).
