Ship linked with North Korean weapons deliveries sailing along Norwegian coast

On 22 October, the 131-metre-long Maia-1 (IMO 9358010) was sailing along the northern Norwegian coast on a southbound course. According to ship traffic data, it set out from Kildin Island, north of Murmansk, on 21 October.

Satellite images from 17 October show a ship bearing a strong resemblance to the Maia-1 in the bay south-east of Kildin.

The ship’s current destination is not clear.

The Maia-1 is on the sanctions lists of the EU, the USA, and many other countries.

In autumn 2023, it was observed transporting containers between North Korea and Russia. According to international observers, the containers were filled with weapons and ammunition later used in the war against Ukraine. Reportedly, the vessel was also spotted in India in 2022 with weapons on board, opensanctions.org reports.

In late May this year, the Maia-1 was back in Rason, the North Korean port, NK Pro, a news and intelligence platform, reported.

According to NK Pro, the Maia-1 is one of the Russian ships that have repeatedly been spotted picking up containers of suspected munitions at Rason over the past three years.

The Maia-1 is owned and managed by MG-Flot, a company that previously operated under the name Transmorflot. The company is sanctioned by the US, the EU, the UK, as well as a number of other countries because of its ties with the Russian Ministry of Defence and its involvement in weapons deliveries from Iran and North Korea.

It is not clear what kind of cargo the ship is transporting on its current voyage.

The ship has Arc4 ice class and is licensed for sailing on the Northern Sea Route.

This is not the first time the Maia-1 has sailed in Norwegian waters. The Barents Observer spotted the ship on September 29, 2026, as it was sailing on the Northern Sea Route en route from Russia's Pacific coast.

The last time it crossed the maritime border between Norway and Russia may have been on 24 August 2025.