The controversial feed boat’s journey continues.
After unloading in Murmansk, the Russian freighter “Aleksander Gusev” took a quick trip to Ura Guba, where Russian Aquaculture has its breeding cages. Now the feed boat is on its way back to Norway to pick up more supplies.
Running at a reduced speed, “Aleksander Gusev” set sail west on Tuesday morning, just north of the Varanger Peninsula. There is dense snow drifts and a northeasterly slight gale in the stern on the way to Stokmarknes, Norway, where Skretting has a feed factory. The freighter previously collected feed from the Norway site before setting course for Cargill’s nearby factory to collect more supplies.
Read also: Feed boat “Aleksander Gusev” changes course towards Murmansk
Sanctions
In light of the war in Ukraine, where a large number of multinational companies have imposed sanctions on Russia, it is particularly important to have feed delivered to the fish farms on the Kola peninsula. Without feed and smolt delivered from Norway, it is not possible for the Russians to produce salmon.
Although Russia has had an import ban on Norwegian salmon for almost eight years, Russians are happy to accept smolts, feed, farming equipment and wellboat services from the European country.
The feed companies Skretting and Cargill’s collaboration with their Russian aquaculture customers Russian Salmon and Russian Aquaculture is controversial. Partly because the Russian companies both have close relations with their country’s defense sector, but also because they operate in fjords controlled by the Russian Northern Fleet.
A large number of multinational companies have ended their operations in Russia after Moscow attacked its neighbor Ukraine. AKVA group stated last week that the company will not “enter into new contracts with Russian customers under the prevailing circumstances.”
Heineken gives up
Another company that has packed its bags and left Russia is Heineken. The brewery had already stopped new investments and exports to Russia, as well as discontinuing production, sales and marketing.
On Monday, the brewer halted all business operations in Russia entirely.
“Following the previously announced strategic review of our business, we have concluded that Heineken’s ownership of the business in Russia is no longer sustainable or viable in today’s environment. As a result, we have decided to leave Russia.”
“We aim for an orderly transfer of our business to a new owner in full compliance with international and local laws. To ensure ongoing safety and well-being for our employees and to minimize the risk of nationalization, we concluded that it is important that we continue with the recently reduced business during this transition period,” Heineken writes in a press release.
The brewery group, headquartered in Amsterdam, guaranteed salaries throughout the year for its 1,800 employees in Russia, as it incurs a loss of 400 million euros.
