A ferry from Molslinjen was forced to change course on Friday morning shortly after departing from Sjællands Odde towards Aarhus to avoid a collision with a Russian ship that did not respond to radio calls. The incident caused unrest among the passengers but was professionally handled by the ferry’s captain, who ensured a safe maneuver without any drama.
Jesper Maack, the communications chief at Molslinjen, could not confirm to the press that it was a Russian warship, as some passengers had been informed, but he emphasized that the ferry’s captain had the necessary experience and equipment to identify and avoid potential threats at sea.
The Defense Command confirmed that a Russian frigate had been observed in the Great Belt the same day and that the Navy routinely monitors military ships in Danish waters. However, they did not have immediate information about specific evasive maneuvers by civilian ships.
According to Jesper Maack, the Russian ship did not comply with international maritime rules, which necessitated the ferry’s evasive action. He added that Molslinjen is considering filing a formal complaint, as the behavior of the Russian frigate required an extraordinary response from the ferry to maintain safety.
The incident is another example of the tensions that can arise at sea when military and civilian ships intersect under strict international rules.