Coast Guard detects Russian military vessel near Hawaiian waters

The U.S. Coast Guard announced Thursday that it detected a Russian military spy ship operating near U.S. territorial waters on Oct. 29 and that personnel continue to monitor the ship.

The Vishnya-class intelligence ship was approximately 15 nautical miles south of Oahu, officials said, prompting the intervention of Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules and Coast Guard Cutter William Hart from Air Station Barbers Point.

According to the press release, the Coast Guard responded to the Russian Federation Navy Auxiliary General Intelligence ship Karelia by conducting a safe and professional flight and passing close to the ship.

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Acting in accordance with international law, the Coast Guard said that its personnel monitored the ship’s activities near US territorial waters in order to ensure the maritime security of US ships operating in the region.

Coast Guard officials will also monitor the ship to support U.S. homeland defense efforts.

“The U.S. Coast Guard routinely monitors maritime activity around the Hawaiian Islands and throughout the Pacific to ensure the safety and security of U.S. waters,” Capt. Matthew Chong, Coast Guard Oceania Region response chief, wrote in a statement.

The Coast Guard said it continues to monitor the ship, which was first spotted in October. (USCG)

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“Working in concert with our partners and allies, our crews monitor and respond to foreign military vessel activity near our territorial waters to protect our maritime borders and defend our sovereign interests.”

According to the U.S. Army website, the Vishnya class is a group of intelligence gathering ships built for the Soviet Navy in the 1980s. There are currently seven ships in service with the Russian Navy.

According to the site, these are large, purpose-built ships designed to gather signals intelligence through a wide array of sensors. Data can be transmitted to the shore via satellite link antennas.

Although the ships are designed for intelligence gathering, they are equipped with two AK-630 close-in weapon systems and SA-N-8 surface-to-air missile (SAM) launchers for self-defense as a last resort, according to the military.

According to officials, the Russian ship is located off the coast of Oahu, Hawaii. (Julia Beverly/Getty Images)

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The Coast Guard Oceania Region works with U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and interagency partners to continuously monitor the activities of foreign military vessels operating near U.S. territorial waters to ensure homeland security and defense.

Under customary international law, foreign military vessels are permitted to transit and operate outside the territorial waters of other nations, which extend up to 12 nautical miles from the coast.

The Coast Guard did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.