Red Sails In
p. 95 · Read in the full issue
The Sunset
The word has gone out to Soviet Russia’s world-ranging fishing fleet, “Use Fiji’s ports for bunkering and provisioning”. The 3,500 ton stern trawling factory ship Krechet berthed at Suva on July 7 and her captain, Oleg Krasnikov, said two other ships of the same class, the Kluchevskoy and the Paruja would follow her.
The Krechet is the first Soviet fish ing vessels to call at Suva but research ships have been using the port’s facilities for at least 15 years.
The Russian trawlers Lira and Nerista were at Suva late in June but they are research ships.
It is well known that Russia uses commercial units such as trade missions and ships to further her political ends and, with Fiji newly independent and in a strategic position in the South Pacific, Russia could be interested in obtaining a foothold in the area.