SOUTH CAROLINA — The U.S. Coast Guard is alerting boaters to use caution along the Georgia and Carolina coast because of “erratic” behavior from a Russian Navy intelligence-gathering ship, according to our news partner WCIV.
The Coast Guard Sector Charleston safety bulletin said the Russian ship, the RFN Viktor Leonov, has been “operating in an unsafe manner" as it makes its way north from Florida.
USCG in Jacksonville, Fla. initially reported the Leonov over the weekend.
Authorities said the ship and crew were “not energizing running lights while in reduced visibility conditions, not responding to hails by commercial vessels attempting to coordinate safe passage and other erratic movements.”
Coast Guard officials said boaters should use extreme caution when near the ship and are encouraged to report any suspicious or unsafe situations.
According to CNN, the Russian ship is frequently along the East Coast conducting surveillance.
The U.S. Navy has several locations along the East Coast as well, including Kings Bay, Georgia, which houses nuclear-class submarines.
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