According to public international law, the ship could have passed through Norwegian waters without interference, but when she stopped and anchored in the port of Haugesund, the Germans broke Norwegian neutrality regulations. The German prize crew had brought the City of Flint into Haugesund to escape the British naval forces which searched for them. When the British cruiser  approached the City of Flint on 2 November the escorting Olav Tryggvason had confronted the British warship and made it leave Norwegian waters.
This situation occurred because international law allowed the ship to pass through Norwegian waters without interference; however, when it docked in Haugesund and anchored, the Germans violated Norwegian neutrality laws. The German prize crew had brought the City of Flint into Haugesund to evade British naval forces searching for them. When the British cruiser approached the City of Flint on November 2, the escorting Olav Tryggvason confronted the British warship and made it leave Norwegian waters.