Saturday, April 27, 2024

Russian Official Linked to "Ghost Fleet" Has Been Charged With Treason

Chemical tanker Yaz, one of the sanctioned vessels with an alleged connection to Ivanov (file image courtesy Transpetrochart)

Timur Vadimovich Ivanov, ex-Deputy Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, is under custody on charges of bribery and treason by the Russian authorities. He was considered one of the ten most influential individuals in Putin’s regime, and ‘Shoigu’s man,’ and is suspected of involvement in illicit traffic and turning a profit on the war in Ukraine.

Timur Ivanov was born in Moscow (1975), and is sanctioned by the United States and European countries. He was possibly one of the main architects of the Russian ‘ghost fleet’ for military logistics, including the Sparta IV, Sparta II, Ursa Major and Pizna, all sanctioned vessels. These ships are reported to have moved S-300 (long-range surface-to-air missile systems), artillery pieces (130 mm M-46 field guns, S-60 anti-aircraft guns), and KAMAZ-5350.

Ivanov is directly related to this fleet through OBL-Shipping LLC, an Oboronlogistics subsidiary. Oboronlogistics is a military shipping and logistics company, owned by the Russian Ministry of Defense and capable of ‘special operations’. OBL-Shipping LLC shares multiple links to the Chief Directorate for Troop Accommodations JSC, a fundamental logistic hub of the Russian MoD. Ivanov was part of this organization as former CEO and director. The European Union has sanctioned Ivanov for allegedly profiting from the war in Ukraine.

The Sparta IV, Ursa Major and Yaz (IMO 9735323), along with other related vessels, are part of the ‘Ghost Fleet’ identified under the direction of the Russian Ministry of Defense and Oboronlogistics. These ships are reported escorted by military vessels almost since the beginning of their illicit operations. However, they have possibly been stopped in their suspected mission of moving weapons from Tartus (Syria) to Novorossiysk (Russia). It is unclear whether the ships have been stopped by Ukraine's sea drone threat or have been reclassified as auxiliary vessels by Turkish authorities and banned from transit through the Bosporus. These ships are now moving from Tartus to ports in the Baltic Sea (Kaliningrad), as recently recorded.

Currently, Ivanov is under investigation for bribery. Reports indicate that “Ivanov was charged under Part 6 of Art. 290 of the Criminal Code (receiving a bribe on an especially large scale).” It is reported that FSB officers are taking care of the investigations in Krasnodar and Stavropol territories (Russia).

The opinions expressed herein are the author's and not necessarily those of The Maritime Executive.

Coast Guard Removes Top Chaplain for "Failure to Demonstrate Judgement"

Capt. Mode (right) visits the cutter USCGC Oliver Henry in Guam, Dec. 2023 (USCG)

On Wednesday, the U.S. Coast Guard announced that it has permanently removed Father Daniel Mode, Chaplain of the Coast Guard, from his primary duty due to a loss of confidence. The service said that Mode "failed to demonstrate the requisite judgment expected from his key leadership position."

The Coast Guard told Military.com that Father Mode's dismissal was prompted by a failure to report wrongdoing by another servicemember. According to the service, Mode had been aware of prior sexual misconduct by a second chaplain (before the second chaplain's enlistment) and did not take action on this information. The second chaplain is no longer on active duty, the outlet reported.

Capt. Daniel Mode, USN - an ordained Catholic priest - took over the Coast Guard's top chaplain role in 2022, overseeing 50 active-duty and reserve Navy chaplains and over 90 auxiliary chaplains. (The Coast Guard sources its full-time chaplains from the Navy.)

His earlier posts included the former carrier USS John F. Kennedy, the carriers USS George Washington and USS Harry S. Truman, and the command ship USS Blue Ridge. On shore, he served across the Middle East during Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, and he oversaw ministry at the Guantanamo Bay base. While the majority of his prior positions were in Navy commands, he was also a chaplain at the Coast Guard Academy from 2009-12.

Among other achievements, Capt. Mode wrote a book about famed Marine Corps chaplain Rev. Vincent R. Capodanno, who was killed by enemy fire while ministering to wounded soldiers in Vietnam. Mode's book started a push to nominate Capodanno for sainthood - a process that is now in its first official step.

Capt. Mode will be reassigned by the Navy Chaplain Corps, outside of the Coast Guard, the service said in its announcement. The Coast Guard's Atlantic Area chaplain, Capt. Richard Ryan, will fill the position on a temporary basis.

Red Sea Diversions Surge Container Shipping Emissions Reports Xeneta

Carbon emissions from the container shipping industry are reaching record levels as ocean going vessels sail longer distances to avoid Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. The new data contained in Xeneta’s Carbon Emissions Index (CEI) highlights the adverse impacts on the industry’s efforts to curb emissions because of the conflict in the Middle East.

Xeneta calculates container shipping emissions hit 107.5 points in the first quarter of this year on its index. The CEI is based on average CO2 emissions per ton of cargo carried, with the baseline set in Q1 2018. Any reading below 100 indicates an improvement in carbon efficiency.

In addition to being the first time the average CEI has been above 100 at a global level, Xeneta reports it marks a 15.2 percent increase from the last quarter of 2023. They calculated that only five of the top 13 trade routes emitted less CO2 per ton of cargo this quarter, which is three fewer routes than in Q4 2023. It is also the lowest in any quarter since Q2 2018.

The most dramatic increase comes for containers being shipped from the Far East to the Mediterranean. Xeneta reports carbon emissions increased by 63 percent during the period compared to the same period last year. From the Far East into North Europe, carbon emissions increased by 23 percent.

The main cause of the significant increase in emissions is the Red Sea conflict that is forcing vessels to travel longer routes around the Cape of Good Hope. The diversion resulted in the average distance a container is transported via ocean on a global level increasing by 11 percent compared to the start of 2023.

The market analytics platform highlights ships sailing to the Mediterranean from the Far East traveled 9,400 nautical miles on average in the last quarter of 2023. Due to the escalation of the conflict, ships are now sailing an additional 5,800 nautical miles due to diversions around the Cape of Good Hope, a 60.7 percent increase with the inevitable consequence of burning more fuel. In actual terms, this means a shipping container on this trade is now being transported 15, 200 nautical miles on average.

“Ships are also being sailed at higher speeds in an attempt to make up time due to the longer distances, which again results in more carbon being burned,” said Emily Stausbøll, Xeneta market analyst.

During the quarter, average sailing speeds increased by 9.8 percent compared to the previous quarter. Average sailing speed reached 15.4 knots in January 2024 for containerships between 12,000 and 17,000 TEU, the highest speed since June 2022 when Covid-19 was also causing major disruptions.

Xeneta highlights that although speeds have fallen slightly since January, the global average was still above 15 knots in mid-April. This is expected to have a detrimental impact on carbon emissions performance.

Another result of the disruptions that is contributing to the increase in carbon emissions is a trend whereby shipping lines are resorting to using older vessels to maintain service schedules due to longer distances and increased time for voyages due to the rerouting around Africa. Xeneta reports on the route between the Far East and the Mediterranean, the average age of ships deployed has increased by one year to 7.4 years.

“Not only does this mean there are more ships burning more fuel, carriers have needed to bring in older, less efficient vessels to meet this additional demand,” reports Xeneta.

Besides being older, the ships being pressed back into service are also smaller, making them less efficient in terms of average CO2 emissions per ton of cargo carried. On the Far East to Mediterranean trade, the average size of ships deployed decreased by 5.1 percent to 15,160 TEU in the first quarter.

Xeneta concludes by saying the data showed the sensitivity of the supply chain and the impact of a disruption. They note that with a semblance of normality now returning to ocean freight container supply chains, it remains to be seen whether this will also contribute to an improvement in the carbon emissions performance.

Whistleblower Reveals Japanese Engine Manufacturer Faked Fuel Data

IHI engine — IHI is a leading marine engine company including its recently released ammonia-fueled engine seen here (IHI Power)

Japan’s IHI Power Systems Company, a leading manufacturer of engines used in marine and land applications including trains, issued an apology and official “Notice of Misconduct” after a whistleblower revealed the company has been altering fuel consumption data for decades. The company is confirming that an internal investigation found that “improper alterations” were made to the test operation records with reports saying it was going on since the 1980s at one manufacturing plant and since 2001 at the other.

Inspectors from Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism conducted raids at the company’s two manufacturing plants located in Niigata and Gunma prefectures. Officials from the ministry were reported to be collecting information and interviewing people the day after the company issued a formal apology saying it sincerely regretted the betrayal of trust.

The fraud came to light when an employee in February 2024 reported that the fuel consumption rates provided to customers when engine products were shipped were being alerted from the actual results during the tests. The company launched an internal investigation and now reports it was able to confirm the widespread efforts to alter the results.

The company produces marine engines and the reports are the products include those shipped to the Japan Coast Guard and private companies. The land-based engines are also likely in trains operating on the Hokkaido Railway.

The depth of the fraud was highlighted in the internal report that says more than half the engines shipped did not meet specifications. They found 58 models of marine engines and 40 models of land-use engines were involved. The company shipped nearly 4,900 marine engines of which 86 percent had altered data. The land-use segment is much smaller involving 656 shipped units.

The company reports it is still investigating to determine if any laws were violated for the marine engines. For the land-engines, they report there were no specific regulations.

“Concerning marine engines, we have confirmed that there are cases that are at risk of deviating from the standards for marine products in the NOx regulations established according to the Act on Prevention of Marine Pollution and Maritime Disaster and the International Maritime Organization. In addition, regarding the fuel consumption rates prescribed by the Fishing Boat Inspection Regulations, we have confirmed that there are cases that are at risk of deviating from the standards.”

They are reporting that there have been no confirmed cases about the safety of the engines during test operations and actual use.

IHI Power is involved in some of the most innovative engine projects currently underway. They were working on the ammonia-fueled engine for the conversion of the NYK tugboat as well as other ammonia applications. They also reported the development of battery-powered engines.

Media reports are indicating it is the second time the parent company IHI Corporation has admitted misconduct. In 2019, the group’s aircraft engine part company admitted misconduct in the manufacturing of parts and was ordered to improve its operations.

Just Months After Mysterious Rupture, Finland-Estonia Gas Line Restored

Low-resolution video still of damage to the Balticconnector pipeline (Finland NBI)

This week, the gas pipeline connecting Finland and Estonia reopened successfully, just seven months after it was severed by "mechanical impact or mechanical destruction." A consortium of subsea construction companies pulled together to bring the repairs to completion, and first gas flowed through the line again on Monday.

“All repairs were performed via remotely controlled equipment and no divers were involved in the work," said Tiit Toomits, Marine Pipeline Maintenance Manager for Elering. "While repairing such submarine infrastructure usually takes 1-2 years, Balticconnector was repaired in approximately seven months."

The exact cause of the rupture has not yet been formally established, but an anchor strike - accidental or intentional - appears virtually certain. A broken anchor was retrieved from the scene of the breach, and an anchor-sized drag trail stretched for miles leading up to the pipeline.

Initially, the list of suspects included the Russian icebreaking LASH carrier Sevmorput - the world's last nuclear-powered cargo ship - and the Chinese ice-class container ship NewNew Polar Bear. Both vessels crossed over the Balticconnector pipeline at about 0112-0120 hours on October 8, 2023, about the same time that a seismographic station in Finland picked up a faint tremor - potentially indicating an explosion or pressurized gas release. NewNew Polar Bear later called at Arkhangelsk, Russia, where she was photographed entering the harbor without a port-side anchor.

Investigators in Finland quickly homed in on the Polar Bear, which is now the primary subject of the inquiry."Container vessel NewNew Polar Bear and its anchor are considered to be connected to the pipeline damage," Finland's NBI told Reuters this week. The investigation is still under way, and Finnish authorities have been in contact with their Chinese counterparts to gather information.

Three telecom cables were also damaged in the same incident, affecting communications between Sweden, Estonia and Finland. The outage added to the list of subsea incidents in the Baltic: In 2022, a clandestine attack on pipeline infrastructure near the island of Bornholm destroyed three out of the four pipelines in Gazprom's Nord Stream network. The culprit has not been formally identified, and Germany is still investigating the blasts.

Report: India to Increase Russian Oil Imports with Russian Tankers

tanker in port — Reports indicate India is again accepting Russian oil shipments on SCF tankers not sanctioned by the U.S. (file photo)

India which had already emerged as a large customer of oil from Russia after the invasion of Ukraine is moving to resume the flow of imports after a brief pause. Both Reuters and Bloomberg are tracking tankers from Sovcomflot’s fleet managed out of the UAE bound for India while Bloomberg is reporting India is also providing marine insurance access to support Russia in transporting the oil products.

The U.S. began in late 2023 increasing the sanctions against tankers and ultimately directly listed Russian tanker owner Sovcomflot in February 2024 as part of the efforts to enforce the oil price cap imposed by the G7 nations. Both Reuters and Bloomberg cite sources in the U.S. government that said the goal was not to totally disrupt the oil market and that they had not directly asked India to suspend Russian oil imports. However, tankers linked to the Russian trade appeared to be delayed or turned away from India, and after Sovcomflot was added to the latest efforts reports said Indian refineries were rethinking their use of Russian tankers.

Bloomberg calculates that India is importing 1.72 million barrels a day in April, the highest level in nine months. In both reports, the news outlets assert that Russia seeks to control much of the oil shipments to provide freight income.

India’s Directorate General of Shipping’s website Bloomberg reports now shows that four Russian firms have been listed for marine insurance. Three of the firms, VSK, Sogaz, and Alfastrakhovanie, are listed with approval till February 2025 while Ingrosstrakh was extended to March 2029.

Access to insurance was been one of the critical issues for the oil shipments with Russia avoiding Western sources due to the sanctions. Data calculated by Bloomberg says in March less than a quarter of Russian shipments were insured through London P&I Clubs, the world’s leader for ocean-going cargoes. In a separate report filed today by Bloomberg, they are detailing that a shadow fleet tanker transporting Russian oil presented fake or expired insurance documents to the Danish authorities after the vessel was in a minor accident.

India’s major refineries are reported to now be rethinking their position on the use of Russian tankers. Both Bloomberg and Reuters are tracking a tanker from the Sovcomflot fleet sailing currently to India that is not part of the U.S. sanctions. The Vladimir Tikhonov (162,000 dwt) registered in Gabon, is expected to arrive next week, with Bloomberg reporting the tanker will be offloading to the state-owned Indian Oil Company. It is following the SCF Baltica (117,000 dwt) also registered in Gabon that already reached India with 90,000 metric tons of fuel oil for Reliance Industries, reports Reuters.

After the U.S. listed 14 Sovcomflot tankers and the company following the listing of other tankers managed from Dubai, Sovcomflot said it was making the trade increasingly difficult. The company however reported a strong profit in 2023 and used the money to repay loans.

Analysts believe India is taking these additional steps to ease the pressures and ensure the continued flow of Russian oil imports.

China Builds Up its Presence Ahead of Historic U.S.-Philippine Exercise

Chinese maritime militia trawlers in a typical mooring arrangement (Philippine Coast Guard file image)

China has doubled the presence of maritime militia and military vessels in and around the Philippine exclusive economic zone in advance of major U.S.-Philippine naval drills, according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines. 124 Chinese vessels are in the area, with the largest concentrations found near three strategic locations: Scarborough Shoal, Second Thomas Shoal and Pag-asa Island.

"This upsurge is out of the normal," Philippine Navy spokesman Commodore Roy Trinidad told GMA. For the last two months, the Chinese maritime presence has ranged from 33-69 vessels, he said, with an average of 60.

China's coast guard has attacked Philippine supply boats near Second Thomas Shoal in the recent past, and the maritime militia has played a key role in Chinese blockades. Though the uptick in presence is concerning, Trinidad said that the AFP expects Chinese forces to "behave" during the exercises because the U.S. Navy will be there.

"I don’t expect them to do anything illegal because of the presence of foreign warships," Trinidad told Rappler. "Historically, the illegal, unprovoked, uncalled-for actions of China will only be [towards the Philippines]."

Beijing's English-language opinion outlet, Global Times, has expressed outrage that the Philippines will be using an aging Chinese-built product tanker for a sinking exercise as part of the Balikitan 2024 maneuvers. The BRP Lake Caliraya - a decommissioned Philippine Navy oiler - will be targeted with U.S. Navy and Philippine Navy missiles until sunk. Lake Caliraya once belonged to the Philippine National Oil Company, and it was built to merchant tanker specifications by a Chinese shipyard.

"It is a ludicrous performance by Manila . . . showing clear provocative intent," complained Global Times. "We hope that the Philippines will not allow the 'spiritual victory' of sinking target ships to make them too excited, leading to the illusion that they can take on real ships."

The Philippine Navy had planned to use Lake Caliraya as a target ship at least as early as July 2023. The first attempt failed when the derelict tanker drifted aground in a storm. It has since been refloated and prepped for Balikatan 2024.

"The vessel has been used in the Philippines for a very long, long time," Philippine Navy Vice Adm. Toribio Adaci told 24 Oras. "Just like in any sinking exercise around the world, they use old vessels as the target of the exercise and the same thing we are doing with Lake Caliraya."

Video: Suez Canal Responds to Distress Call from Listing Vessel

listing cargo ship — The small cargo ship developed a list and called for assistance while waiting to enter the Suez Canal (SCA photos)

[Brief] The Suez Canal Authority is reporting that it responded to a distress call from a small cargo ship that was waiting off the northern terminus of the canal. The vessel lost stability this morning, April 23, and was listing causing a concern that it would capsize.

The vessel named Labatros (3,000 tons) is reported to be owned by a company in Lebanon and was due to transit the canal to the southern Egyptian port of Adabiya. It is being managed by Egypt’s Assiut Agency with databases showing it as an inland cargo vessel.

The ship which is registered in Tanzania and 308 feet (94 meters) was seen with an increasing list to starboard. Two Suez Canal tugs and another vessel were sent to its aid and to ensure the safety of the 12 crewmembers aboard.

The pictures show the vessel with a list in the northern anchorage near Port Said. The Suez Canal Authority reports the situation began before the vessel joined the northern convoy to begin the transit.

The Labatros remains at anchor near Port Said with the Suez Canal Authority reporting a technical assessment is underway to determine the cause of the list and ensure the safety of the crew. They are also monitoring for possible pollution from the vessel.

Video: World’s Largest Self-Righting Fireboat Rolls Like Bathtub Toy

Video leaked to social media in Taiwan of the tests of the world’s largest self-righting fireboat. Believed to be the largest of its kind yet built, the vessel rolls in the test before returning to an even keel in six to ten seconds according to documentation from its builders.

Taiwan’s Lungteh Shipbuilding, a private shipyard specializing in patrol boats, inceptors, and other high-speed and high-performance vessels, confirmed to media inquiries that the tests were authentic. The shipyard, however, declined to provide additional details on the ship or for whom it was being built.

The South China Morning Post ferreted out the details from a Hong Kong Government Logistics Department notice. The newspaper reports the vessel, a fireboat named simply Fireboat 12, was ordered in June 2020 by the Hong Kong Fire Service Department. Sources told the paper that Hong Kong wanted a new high-performance vessel and sought the self-righting feature normally found on smaller lifeboats so that the new fireboat would be able to handle the rough sea conditions of eastern Hong Kong.

The video played on Taiwanese TV and across the Internet, shows the fireboat which is approximately 131 feet (40 meters) in length released by a crane in a fully inverted position into the harbor. The boat moves from the heeled position to fully upright earning it nicknames in Taiwan of “tumbler” and “roly-poly” like a child’s bathtub toy.

The unfortunate nickname may stick with the vessel much as “Boaty McBoatface” with the UK’s multi-billion pound state-of-the-art scientific research vessel officially named Royal Research Ship (RRS) Sir David Attenborough. A 2016 public contest to name the vessel garnered over 124,000 votes (a third of the responses) favoring Boaty McBoatface. One of the vessel’s advanced underwater submarines was given the popular name.

The tests for “tumbler” took place at Suao Port in northeastern Taiwan on April 17. The contract price of the vessel is reported at approximately US$16 million with the newspaper reporting the builder asserts the fireboat which is 200 tons is the world’s largest self-righting vessel.

The report from the South China Morning Post says the vessel is still undergoing testing and then will require a period of training for its crew. It is expected to arrive in Hong Kong as early as June.

The Hong Kong Fire Services Department is working to enhance and strengthen its capabilities. Hong Kong has previously contracted with Lungteh for marine police, customs, and fireboats. It is expected that they will order additional new fire and command boats to further enhance the fire department’s marine capabilities.

America's missing NUKES: How US has LOST three bombs since 1958 (and that's just the ones they've told us about)

Multiple nuclear devices have been lost and can't be found - including on US soil

By ROB WAUGH FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

Somewhere at the bottom of the Philippine Sea rests an undetonated hydrogen bomb with around 70 times the power of the one dropped on Hiroshima.

The 1965 disaster which saw the weapon sink to the bottom of the sea is just one of at least three cases where the U.S. lost nuclear weapons.

According to some sources, the number could be as high as six, and that does not account for those lost by other countries.

At least three bombs have been lost around the world (Picture: DailyMail.com)

USS Ticonderoga

Since 1950, there have been several dozen 'Broken Arrow' incidents involving the accidental launch, theft or detonation or loss of US nuclear weapons.

They include the 1980 Damascus Incident in rural Arkansas where a nine-megaton weapon was thrown from its silo by a fuel explosion.

But only three cases of nukes going missing have been documented.

One of the lost nuke cases involved a one megaton B43 thermonuclear bomb that vanished during the Vietnam War after a freak accident in the Philippine Sea.

The bomb was being carried by a Navy A-4E Skyhawk that tried to land on board the carrier U.S.S. Ticonderoga in 1965.

As it docked on the aircraft elevator, it began to roll relentlessly as servicemen whistled, shouted and tried to block its tires.

The pilot on board, Lieutenant Douglas Webster, the plane, and the plane's cargo have not been seen since.

Retired Chief Petty Officer Delbert Mitchell, U.S. Navy, who worked as an aviation ordnanceman aboard the Ticonderoga, told Naval History that he and the other ordnancemen, 'saw the Skyhawk suddenly hit the end of the elevator and fall overboard.

'We never saw Lieutenant Webster after he climbed into the cockpit or knew what efforts he might have attempted to get out of the Skyhawk, but we were stunned to witness a plane, pilot, and nuclear weapon fall into the ocean.

'We watched helplessly as the attack plane and pilot sank into the abyss, the ship continuing to move forward. It was horrifying to watch a human being die before our very eyes, powerless to save him.'

A B43 bomb similar to the one which went missing

Lieutenant Douglas Webster

Another case which is still surrounded in mystery occurred in 1958 during a military exercise off Tybee Island near Savannah in Georgia.

A B-47 bomber was involved in a collision during an exercise, and jettisoned a nuclear weapon over water so that the bomb wouldn't be involved in an emergency landing.

The 7,600lbs, Mark 15 bomb had an explosive yield of up to 3.8 megatons.

Aircrew of B-47, left to right, Major Howard Richardson, Lieutenant Bob Lagerstrom and Captain Leland Woolard

The Boeing B-47 Stratojet collided with a F-65 Sabre jet during training, and the pilot of the Stratojet was concerned that the bomb would break loose and detonate.

Pilot Colonel Howard Richardson jettisoned the bomb into the waters of Wassaw Sound.

Teams of personnel attempted to find the bomb for two months, but it was never unearthed - and it became well known among local residents, who refer to it as the 'Tybee bomb'.

Controversy remains as to whether the bomb actually had the plutonium core required to detonate, with the U.S. government having said that it did not contain a core.

But 1966 testimony by Jack Howard suggested that the bomb was a 'complete nuclear weapon', although military sources have since suggested that was 'in error'.

Colonel Richardson has said that he has a signed receipt proving the bomb did not have an active capsule (which would allow it to be detonated).

A Mark 15 thermonuclear device

Colonel Richardson later said: 'What I should be remembered for is landing that plane safely. I guess this bomb is what I'm going to be remembered for.'

Another major source of 'lost' nuclear weapons has been submarines, with the Soviet submarine K-219 which sank in 1986 believed to be carrying more than a dozen thermonuclear weapons.

In 1968, the nuclear attack submarine the U.S.S. Scorpion sank in the middle of the Atlantic, with the loss of 99 lives - and two nuclear-tipped torpedoes.

The submarine and the weapons have never been recovered.

Technical problems with the submarine had led crew members to refer to the doomed submarine as the 'Scrapiron'.

A Boeing Stratojet

Making one last voyage back to home base, the submarine disappeared, and the crew did not respond to the call sign after the submarine failed to show up at the allotted time.

The wreck was found on October 29, having imploded beneath the Atlantic, with all 99 sailors still on board.

Conspiracy theorists have suggested that the Scorpion was in fact sunk by a Soviet vessel - claiming that the high number of submarines sunk in 1968 suggests a secret war conducted beneath the surface.

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