July 2002 (TV 2, Bergen, Norway)
TV 2 reports on the mysterious mission of the U.S.
Navy’s surveillance ship, USNS Loyal, in the Sørøy Strait (Sørøysundet),
Finnmark, Norway in 2002:
Morten Kræmer, TV 2 reporter: “Ten years ago (1992),
the crew of the ferry, M/F Åfjord, saw a light which came down from the sky and
dived into the Sørøy Strait (Sørøysundet). Some local citizens believe this is
the reason why the ship is surveilling the Sørøy Strait.” (at the start of
video No. 2)
Arnleif Iversen, captain of the ferry, M/F Åfjord: “A
lot of people talk about the light phenomenon which has been seen here. Others
talk about submarines.”
Iversen said USNS Loyal has surveilled the Sørøy
Strait the last 5 years, for months at a time. He dismisses the explanation
(USNS Loyal is either resupplying or seeking shelter from the weather) of the
Norwegian Armed Forces.
Kjell Grandhagen, Brigadier and Press Officer,
Norwegian Armed Forces: “It is a fact that these ships do not perform any military
missions inside the Norwegian territorial waters. The ships only resupply or
seek shelter from the weather.”
TV 2 reporter: “Do you understand that it seems
striking that these ships circulate in the Sørøya Strait?”
Kjell Grandhagen: “I understand that people who see
this sailing pattern can believe that something mysterious is going on. But
that is not the case.”
After the July 2002 media (TV 2 news report and many
articles
in Norway’s largest newspapers) focus on USNS Loyal’s activities
– the ship disappeared.
in Norway’s largest newspapers) focus on USNS Loyal’s activities
– the ship disappeared.
Wikipedia article: “USNS Loyal (T-AGOS-22)”:
Wikipedia article: “Military
Sealift Command”:
“U.S. Navy’s MILITARY SEALIFT COMMAND: Special
Mission: Special Mission (PM2)”:
“U.S. Navy’s MILITARY SEALIFT COMMAND: Ship Inventory:
Ocean Surveillance Ships: USNS Loyal”:
USNS Loyal
(youtube.com image)
Arnleif Iversen, Captain, M/F Åfjord
(youtube.com image)
