The Russian Navy has just shown its utter lack of seamanship

The Russian Navy’s handling of a June 16 incident involving the British yacht Bright Future aboard the frigate Admiral Grigorovich is being criticized as evidence of broader seamanship and judgment problems. The article argues the episode was not an isolated misunderstanding and points to prior encounters, including warning shots fired at HMS Defender in 2021 near Crimea. It describes the Grigorovich as operating in a busy westbound shipping lane between the Dover Strait traffic separation scheme and the Casquets TSS, waiting in position for escort duties associated with vessels linked to Vladimir Putin. The piece claims the frigate turned off its engines and AIS transponder in fog, which would place a ship into Not Under Command status under COLREGs, though it says that situation does not apply to simply switching engines off. It further contrasts expectations for underway replenishment at sea with Russia’s alleged inability to conduct it, citing a lack of practice.