A routine fishing trip for halibut turned extraordinary when Norwegian fishermen aboard the vessel Øygutt accidentally snagged the USS Virginia, a U.S. Navy nuclear-powered submarine, in their fishing net. The incident occurred off the coast of the Norwegian town of Tromsø in icy Arctic waters.
The Øygutt’s fishing net reportedly became entangled in the submarine’s propeller, unknowingly dragging the 115-meter-long vessel over two nautical miles before the Norwegian Coast Guard intervened. The Coast Guard, which was escorting the submarine, assisted in cutting the net loose. No injuries or significant damage were reported, though the fishing crew lost their net in the process.
“I’ve heard of ships snagging fishing nets, but never a submarine,” said Harald Engen, the 22-year-old captain of the Øygutt, in an interview with Norwegian broadcaster NRK.
The USS Virginia (SSN-774) is an advanced attack submarine designed for surveillance and precision strikes. It had been operating in the region as part of NATO’s monitoring of Russian naval activity in the High North, an area of growing strategic importance. The U.S. Navy uses Norwegian ports like Tromsø as logistical hubs for Arctic operations.
Lt. Pierson Hawkins, a spokesperson for the U.S. 6th Fleet, confirmed the incident and stated that an investigation is underway. While declining to comment on the submarine’s mission, Hawkins said the U.S. Navy appreciates Norway’s support for Arctic deployments. A compensation process is available for civilian damages, such as the lost fishing net.
