Russian spy ship reported off South Carolina coast 'operating in unsafe manner'

CHARLESTON, SC (WCIV) — The U.S. Coast Guard is alerting boaters to use caution in coastal waters along Georgia and the Carolinas because of erratic behavior by a Russian Navy intelligence-gathering ship.

According to a safety bulletin published Tuesday morning by Coast Guard Sector Charleston, the RFN Viktor Leonov has been "operating in an unsafe manner" as it makes its way north along the coast from Florida.

The USCG in Jacksonville initially reported the Leonov over the weekend, accusing the ship and crew of "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 are warning vessels traveling in waters near the Carolinas and Georgia to keep a lookout and use extreme caution when near the Russian vessel. Boaters also are urged to report any unsafe situations to the Coast Guard.

The Leonov frequently transits along the Eastern seaboard on deployments, conducting surveillance, according to reports from CNN.

The U.S. Navy has several installations along the east coast, including Kings Bay, Georgia, which is home to nuclear-class submarines.