Norwegian Fishermen Stunned as Fishing Nets Snag on U.S. Nuclear Submarine Propeller

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) – Norwegian fishermen were taken by surprise when their fishing nets became entangled with the propeller of the U.S. Navy’s nuclear-powered submarine, *USS Virginia*.

According to Norway’s NRK News, a fisherman named Harald Engen was delivering a halibut catch to the fjord in Malange when he received an unusual message.

The message, sent by a fellow fisherman, reported that the propeller of a submarine had snagged their fishing nets, pulling their vessel approximately two nautical miles further out to sea.

At the time of the incident, the USS Virginia was sailing out of the port of Tromsø. NRK News reported that the Norwegian Coast Guard, escorting the nuclear submarine, confirmed that one of its ships had to cut the nets to “separate” the fishing boat from the American vessel.

“I know other ships sail over fishing nets, but no one expected it to involve a submarine,” Engen told the Barents Observer. He added to NRK News that he was not angry but had contacted the Coast Guard about compensation for his damaged nets.

Meanwhile, U.S. Navy Sixth Fleet spokesperson Lt. Pierson Hawkins confirmed the incident to Business Insider but declined to reveal the identity of the submarine involved. Hawkins stated that no injuries occurred, and an investigation into the incident is underway.

When asked about compensation, Hawkins explained that the U.S. Navy has a standard process for covering damages to civilian property, should it be found at fault.

Hawkins did not disclose why the U.S. submarine was operating off Norway’s coast but suggested it was likely monitoring Russian submarines, given the proximity of the two nations.

Norwegian Armed Forces did not comment on the incident involving the U.S. nuclear submarine and the fishing vessel.

“The United States is an Arctic nation with significant security interests in the region,” Hawkins said, adding that the U.S. Sixth Fleet values Norway’s support for deploying its submarines to “deter and defend against increasingly complex security challenges in the area.”

In recent months, the U.S. has ramped up naval deployments in the region, reflecting closer defense and security cooperation between the two nations.

In June, the USS Tennessee, an Ohio-class nuclear submarine, and the USS Normandy, a guided-missile cruiser, were deployed to the Norwegian Sea in response to Russian naval activities.

In October, the Norwegian Armed Forces announced joint maritime exercises with the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group. The British aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales is also expected to participate.

Additionally, the U.S. Navy in Europe and Africa reported that two destroyers, the USS Jason Dunham and USS Stout, were deployed to conduct maritime operations in international waters of the Barents Sea.

The Barents Sea, bordering northern Norway and Russia, is considered a sensitive zone by Moscow. – DSA