COASTAL GA – A Russian spy ship has been spotted by the U.S. Coast Guard off the Southeastern coast of Georgia “operating erratically and unsafely.”

The Coast Guard is cautioning boaters to avoid it, AJC reported. The Coast Guard notice advised boaters to “maintain a sharp lookout and use extreme caution when navigating in proximity to this vessel.”

The RFN Viktor Leonov has been operating in this strange manner off the Georgia and South Carolina coasts, according to the U.S. Naval Institute.

The Coast Guard said the Russian spy ship has not been using its running lights “while in reduced visibility conditions, not responding to hails by commercial vessels attempting to coordinate safe passage and other erratic movements,” AJC reported.

According to the Coast Guard, Russia’s Navy has a long history of sending surveillance ships to monitor U.S. naval bases off the East Coast, including Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia; Naval Station Mayport, Florida; and Georgia’s nuclear submarine base at Kings Bay.

The Leonov was reported off Kings Bay in 2018. 

“We are aware of Russia’s naval activities, including the deployment of intelligence collection ships in the region,” a U.S. Northern Command spokesperson told The Washington Times. “While we won’t discuss specific measures being taken, NORAD and USNORTHCOM routinely conduct air and maritime operations to ensure the defense of the United States and Canada.” 

The Leonov was being shadowed by Norfolk-based U.S. guided-missile destroyer USS Mahan, according to CNN.