Operational Analysis Report: Risk Profile and Activity of Vessel Melkart 3 (2023–2026)

1. Vessel Identification and Technical-Logistical Profile

In the context of modern hybrid warfare, monitoring Russian industrial fishing vessels has become a national security imperative. These units often operate in the “Grey Zone,” leveraging legitimate commercial activities as cover for surveillance and reconnaissance operations.

The dual-use nature of these vessels directly challenges the sovereignty of Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) and the integrity of critical underwater infrastructure (CUI). Analysis of Melkart 3’s movements indicates it is not merely an economic actor but an intelligence asset operating in high-value NATO strategic areas.

• Vessel Name: Melkart 3

• IMO: 8801931

• Type: Fishing Vessel (Trawler)

• Status: Moored at an industrial pier in Murmansk, Russia

Murmansk functions not only as a logistical base but as a data integration hub. Satellite imagery confirms mooring at a fully equipped industrial pier, suggesting advanced coordination between commercial offloading and potential data harvesting during North Atlantic missions. This infrastructure supports a continuous operational cycle between maritime corridor monitoring and debriefing at Russian command centers.

Murmansk commercial port, located approximately 7 km south of the military area and about 20 km from the Severomorsk Naval Base

2. Dual-Use Capabilities and Intelligence Functions

Melkart 3 demonstrates a “Dual Utility” profile, integrating civilian sensors into a military data collection framework. Onboard systems transform environmental parameters into tactical intelligence for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and seabed mapping.

Sensor	Civilian Use	Potential Military/Intelligence Use
SONAR / Echo Sounder	Navigation safety, seabed detection	Precision seabed mapping, identification of cables/pipelines
Temperature & Salinity Sensors	Fishery optimization	Sound Velocity Profile (SVP) mapping for Russian submarine sonar optimization
Fish Density Sensors	Locating commercial stocks	Identifying areas with high biological noise for acoustic masking of naval units
Atmospheric / Meteorological Sensors	Crew safety, route planning	High-precision weather data for air and missile operations

The Dual-Use Data Routing system ensures that data collected for fishing purposes is transmitted via encrypted channels to strategic military intelligence databases, effectively converting every voyage into a systematic environmental scanning mission.

3. Transatlantic Navigation Patterns (2023–2026)

The purple squares indicate the loitering points along the navigation pattern

Between 2023 and 2026, Melkart 3 operated across an exceptionally wide area, acting as a mobile sensor along the North Atlantic. Its routes do not match typical seasonal fishing patterns but align with critical NATO naval transit corridors.

Operational persistence has been documented along continental shelf margins, from Northern Norway to the Eastern Canadian coasts. Navigation patterns show particular focus on bathymetric transition zones, where seabed complexity and currents facilitate submarine concealment. Mapping indicates linear patrolling intersecting major transatlantic communication corridors, deliberately operating along the edges of international EEZs to maximize intelligence collection while minimizing legal exposure.

4. Operational Focus: Loitering in Norwegian EEZ (Svalbard)

Tactical loitering in Svalbard waters is assessed as High Risk, given the region’s critical underwater communication infrastructure and its strategic value for monitoring the Russian Northern Fleet.

Event Chronology (January 2026):

. 02/01/2026 (17:59–18:56 UTC): 57

min, 3.41 km, 1.93 knots

. 03/01/2026 (15:59–19:57 UTC):

3 hr 58 min

. 19/01/2026 (16:51–17:51 UTC): 60 min

The recorded speed of 1.93 knots on

January 2 is inconsistent with industrial trawling, strongly indicating the use of towed arrays or autonomous underwater vehicles (UUVs). The precision of these loitering positions along the Western Spitsbergen plateau suggests systematic seabed scanning for submarine cable mapping or interception.

5. Intrusions and Surveillance in Canadian EEZ

Melkart 3’s presence in the Canadian EEZ confirms a global intelligence mission. Activities concentrated along the Flemish Cap and Grand Banks—historical choke points for acoustic surveillance and transatlantic fiber-optic cables.

Border patrol patterns along the outer continental shelf suggest temperature and salinity sensors are used for high-resolution hydrological modeling. Sound velocity profile (SSVP) mapping provides Russian submarines with natural acoustic channels, enabling tactical advantages for infiltration or conflict scenarios in North American waters.

6. Risk Assessment and Conclusions

Between 2023 and 2026, Melkart 3 is classified as a hybrid reconnaissance platform operating under commercial cover.

Risk Factors Summary:

• Sensor Versatility: Generates naval and acoustic intelligence from environmental and biological data (acoustic masking).

• Behavioral Anomalies: Repeated tactical loitering in sensitive areas (Svalbard/Western Spitsbergen) at speeds consistent with towed sonar or UUV deployment.

• Operational Reach: Persistent presence in NATO strategic points (Flemish Cap/Grand Banks), indicative of transatlantic communications surveillance.