Denmark sends former Soviet ship to Greenland to deter Russia
MS Ocean Endeavour, formerly the Konstantin Simonov (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)
Denmark plans to deploy a floating barracks in Greenland to strengthen its military presence. The floating barracks will be a former Soviet passenger ship, Konstantin Simonov, now called MS Ocean Endeavour, according to Bild.
The former Soviet vessel Konstantin Simonov will serve as floating accommodation for around 150 Danish troops in Greenland. The ship is being deployed as part of Denmark’s efforts to increase its military presence on the island.
The reason is that Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, is not designed to handle such an influx of military personnel. At present, Denmark is housing soldiers and officers in hotels and holiday lodges. That is why the floating barracks Ocean Endeavour has been sent to the island.
Soviet ship in NATO service
In 1982, the Soviet Far Eastern Shipping Company commissioned a reinforced-hull passenger vessel, which entered service as Konstantin Simonov. Until the collapse of the USSR, it operated as a ferry; it was later sold and renamed Ocean Endeavour. In 2025, the ship’s owner, the US shipping company SunStone, put it up for sale.
Denmark purchased the vessel and plans to convert it into a floating barracks for NATO troops. As early as January 23, the 1,762-ton Ocean Endeavour set sail for Nuuk from Wistreham, France. It will be anchored in Greenland’s capital.
In response to a media inquiry, Denmark’s armed forces command confirmed the deployment of the ship to Greenland.
“Some of the Danish and international soldiers participating in the ‘Arctic Resilience’ exercise in Greenland will be accommodated on the hotel ship Ocean Endeavour starting in early February. The hotel ship will be anchored in the port of Nuuk… Troops will be able to live in good conditions without the need for temporary accommodation on land,” the statement said.
Greenland dispute
Amid US President Donald Trump’s stated desire to acquire Greenland, Danish armed forces personnel deployed to the island were reportedly ordered to be ready to engage US troops in the event of American aggression against Greenland.
In early January, following what he described as a successful operation in Venezuela, President Trump said that control over Greenland was an absolute necessity for US national security. He claimed the island was surrounded by Russian and Chinese fleets and argued that Denmark could not provide adequate protection.
After the White House did not rule out the use of force, a small but demonstrative contingent of NATO allied forces was deployed to Greenland.
However, the issue appears to have been resolved peacefully. On January 21, it became known that a framework for a future agreement on Greenland had been established. The framework upholds Denmark’s sovereignty over the island and calls for an update to the 1951 defense agreement between the US and Denmark.
