Ya Qing Hai Yang, previously involved in equipment deliveries to Russia’s Arctic LNG 2 project, was detained over registration and certification deficiencies. AIS data showed the vessel still anchored off northern Norway on November 4.

Norway has detained the Chinese-owned heavy-lift vessel Ya Qing Hai Yang after inspectors found that it lacked valid flag-state registration and required certificates.

The Norwegian Maritime Authority inspected the vessel on October 13 after it sought shelter from bad weather in Andfjorden, off the Vesterålen Islands in northern Norway. The authority attributed the detention to registration and certification deficiencies, rather than the vessel’s sanctions status, according to High North News.

AIS information reviewed by Xinde Marine News showed the vessel still anchored off northern Norway at 4:15 p.m. Beijing time on November 4, reporting a speed of 0.2 knots. The position update confirms its continued presence in the area but does not independently establish whether the detention remained in force at that time.

Registration and certificates required for release

The vessel must obtain valid flag-state registration and the necessary certificates before Norwegian authorities can complete their inspection and consider its release, High North News reported, citing the maritime authority’s communications director, Dag Inge Aarhus.

Although media reports have described the case as a possible first for Norway involving a falsely flagged vessel, Aarhus said the historical record would need to be checked before that could be confirmed.

Identified by IMO number 1021570, Ya Qing Hai Yang is a deck cargo vessel used to transport large and heavy equipment. The vessel information accompanying the November 4 AIS update lists its deadweight at 24,623 tonnes and its dimensions at approximately 154 metres long and 42 metres wide, with a build date of February 2022.

Previous delivery to Arctic LNG 2

The vessel previously operated under the name Ocean 28. In October 2024, it transported power-generation modules from China to the Utrenniy terminal serving Novatek’s Arctic LNG 2 project on Russia’s Gydan Peninsula.

The US sanctions announcement dated January 10, 2025, lists Ocean 28, also known as Ya Qing Hai Yang, under IMO number 1021570. The Office of Foreign Assets Control identifies the vessel as linked to Hongkong Yaqing Shipping Co Limited. The ship itself therefore appears on the US sanctions list, alongside the associated company.

The vessel has also been placed under EU sanctions, according to reporting by Norwegian news agency NTB.

Second vessel inspected but not detained

Another Chinese-owned heavy-lift vessel, Jian Yang Cheng He, was inspected in Andfjorden on October 21 but was not detained.

Inspectors identified five deficiencies requiring correction, including poor housekeeping, insufficient protection around hot surfaces and documentation requiring updates. The Norwegian Maritime Authority said the inspection followed standard procedures for vessels entering a place of refuge.

According to gCaptain’s November 3 report, Jian Yang Cheng He briefly departed the fjord on October 30 before returning to shelter about 12 hours later. Norway’s Joint Headquarters confirmed that it had been permitted to return.

Both vessels had travelled through the Northern Sea Route during the summer and subsequently appeared near Murmansk and the Norwegian-Russian maritime boundary, according to the report.