First Russian
SAIC Tsunami Buoy System for Russian Federation
Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) (NYSE: SAI) announced it has been awarded a contract for the production and delivery of an SAIC Tsunami Buoy (STB) system by the Far Eastern Ecological Center, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, for the Far Eastern Regional Hydrometeorological Research Institute (FERHRI), Vladivostok, Russian Federation. The STB system will be one of the key sensors monitored by the Tsunami Warning Center in the Russian Far East, and will serve as the ocean segment of the Russian Federation tsunami warning system network currently in development. Once implemented, the Russian Federation tsunami warning network will become one of the key providers of tsunami information to Pacific Rim countries. "The SAIC Tsunami Buoy (STB) System is expected to be deployed near the Kuril Islands, recognized as one of the world's most seismically active regions and having a history of significant tsunami events," said Dr. Yuri Volkov, director of FERHRI. "Major earthquakes in this region produced trans-Pacific tsunamis in 2006 and 2007. After the first year of the STB deployment, the Far Eastern Regional Hydrometeorological Research Institute may consider widening the system of ocean sensors." The STB system consists of three subsystems: a surface communications buoy, a buoy mooring, and a bottom pressure recorder
Police Investigation in Moscow at Aker Kvaerner
Russian police came to the Aker Kvaerner Engineering & Technology representation office in Moscow to inquire about a complaint from a former Russian business partner regarding Aker Kvaerner Engineering & Technology's acquisition of 56 percent ownership in Astrakhan Korabel. The inquiry concerns Aker Kvaerner Engineering & Technology's acquisition of shares from the Finnish company RR Offshore Oy. There were 14 employees working in the office when the police started investigation
Russian Tanker Seized Off West Africa
Reports indicate that armed men have seized a Russian tanker off the West African coast and sailed it to Guinea. Russian officials say the men came on board and claimed that the tanker had entered Guinea's territorial waters. The ship, which was chartered by a Swiss-based oil company, is now in Conakry, the capital of Guinea. Russia says it will request information from authorities in Guinea and demand the ship's release.
Crowley Forms Crowley Far East Services
Crowley Maritime Corporation has expanded its international presence with the formation of Crowley Far East Services. This new company, formed and incorporated in Sakhalin State, Russia, on April 9, 2003, offers marine and shoreside logistics and transportation services to the energy and construction industries in the region. As a Russian company, Crowley Far East Services offers Russian and international marine transportation by drawing on a fleet of over 200 vessels
USCG Stops, Boards Russian Vessel
USCGC Hamilton pursued, stopped and boarded 331-ft. Russian F/V Gissar along the U.S./Russian maritime boundary line (MBL) for alleged illegal fishing. While patrolling the boundary line, 378-ft. Hamilton's crew spotted Gissar on radar penetrating 437 yards into U.S. waters, and, at one point, exceeding as much as 750 yards on the U.S. side. Hamilton established hot pursuit of Gissar and its 74-person crew, before Gissar changed course and crossed to the Russian side of the MBL.
Navy Tanker, Not Warship, near Syria Says Moscow
Russia denies media reports of warship off Syria Coast As tensions around Syria escalate, media reports said a Russian warship with marines onboard had arrived off the Syrian coast, although Russia, an ally of President Bashar al-Assad, denied the reports, but a senior member of the European parliament demanded an inquiry into the allegations. The Russian Defense Ministry said one of its tankers, Iman, had arrived off the Syrian coast for technical reasons and its civilian crew was
United Shipbuilding and Alcoa Sign MOU
Alcoa Chairman and CEO Klaus Kleinfeld and United Shipbuilding Corporation President Roman Trotsenko, signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the companies aimed at helping to develop the Russian ship building market and increasing the use of aluminum in Russian ship building. The signing took place at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. During preliminary consultations the parties defined potential areas for cooperation including the technical and commercial aspects of
Putin Urges Naval Shipbuilders to Expedite Deliveries
The United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC), is under criticism from Russian President Vladimir Putin for delays in delivery of several warships for the Russian Navy, RIA Novosti reported. In his complaint to USC officials, Putin cited problems with efficiency and quality on a number of projects, particularly regarding the assembly and delivery of nuclear submarines and surface ships. Putin ordered the Russian shipbuilders quicken construction without sacrificing production quality
Russian Shipyard Cuts First Metal for Mistral-class Warship
Baltic Shipyard cuts metal for the hull of first Mistral-class amphibious assault ship for construction in France. Russia and France signed a US$1.2-billion contract on two French-built Mistral class ships, including the transfer of sensitive technology, in June 2011. Under the contract, STX France will carry out the final assembly of the hulls from 24 blocks produced in Russia. STX France handed over in July the first batch of technical documentation on the Mistral project to Russian
Software Radio Technology Wins Big Russian AIS Contract
Software Radio Technology plc (“SRT”} wins contract to supply Transas of Russia with Glonass – capable AIS systems Software Radio Technology plc (“SRT”} announce it has signed an AIS supply agreement with Transas Navigator (“Transas”) of Russia with an initial frame order for Class A products worth US$1.25 million which is expected to be delivered over the next twelve months in minimum call-offs of US$250,000.
Aker Arctic Brings Oblique Ice Breaker to Market
With construction underway on the first ever Oblique Icebreaker, research specialist Aker Arctic Technology has unveiled a new version of the vessel type that will bring ice management and pollution control in thick first year ice to a new level.
Russia's Gazprom to Step Up Arctic Drilling
Under increasing pressure from competitors & the authorities, the Russian gas major is stepping up exploration & drilling in Arctic waters. A total of four wells were drilled and 3000 square km of 3D seismic mapping was conducted in the years 2011-2012 resulting in an increase in
Wabona Awarded Maritime Newcomer Accolade
Durban's Wabona Group was among the winners in one of the nine award categories, during a Maritime Industry Awards function held on April 28, 2013 in Cape Town. The event, held to celebrate contributions to the South African Maritime Industry, was a culmination of a nationwide nomination process
Robert Allan to Design More OSV Icebreakers
Robert Allan Ltd. was awarded a contract for two new designs of icebreaking OSVs for use in the North Caspian Sea. The contract was awarded to the Vancouver naval architects by the Turkish-based Palmali Group of Companies, and the vessels will be built by Besiktas Shipyard of Altinova, Turkey
New Multilingual Medical Assessment Booklet
The International Seafarers' Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN) published multilingual questions for the medical assessment and treatment of seafarers. This updated publication assists medical professionals, first officers, port health authorities and welfare workers, among others
Pirates Kidnap Four Off West African Coast
Pirates attacked the German-owned Liberian-flagged container ship 'Hansa Marburg' off the coast of Equatorial Guinea. Citing the Hamburg-based shipping firm Leonhardt and Blumberg, owners of the vessel, Reuters report that the the four hostages - two Ukrainians
Tankship Owner Warns of 'Russian Roulette' Market
Euronav reports its net loss slipped to US$ 10.7 million in the first three months of 2013, compared with US$ 9.0 million a year earlier. In its Q1 2013 financial report Euronav makes broad observations on the global tanker market as follows:
New Arctic Oil Spill Recovery Icebreaker
Aker Arctic Technology to introduce the ‘Heavy Duty’ oblique icebreaker project for Arctic operations (Aker ARC 100 HD) at upcoming expo. With the awarding of drilling permits in the Arctic subject to increasing scrutiny, Aker Arctic Technology will be explaining the new concept
Northern Sea Route Carrier to be Privatised
The Russian state-owned stake in Murmansk Shipping Company (MSCO) will be privatised by the end of 2013. MSCO assets are composed of fleets of three shipping companies: Murmansk Shipping Company (Murmansk), Northern Sea Shipping Company (Arkhangelsk) and Northern River Shipping Company
Russian Arctic LNG May Ship to Europe
The partners in Russia 's Yamal LNG project are in talks to ship cargoes to Britain & northwest Europe in winter, when heavy sea ice clogs routes to Asia. Under the plan, a fleet of around 14 LNG ice-breaking vessels will deliver Arctic gas from the project offshore northwest Siberia to
Arctic OSV Named at Arctech Yard
Arctic offshore vessel NB 507 has been named after Russian Navigator Aleksey Chirikov at Arctech Helsinki Shipyard. The vessel will be delivered to the largest Russian shipping company Sovcomflot shortly and will continue its path straight to Sakhalin area in Far East Russia
Russian Navy Submarines to be More Anonymous
Russian navy will reintroduce Soviet practice and remove control tower emblems and markings to make identification more difficult. The huge and highly visible emblems in the front on the submarines’ towers make it too easy to figure out which of them sailing or not
Shell's Fresh Arctic Oil Exploration Attempt
Shell to sign Russian Arctic deal with Gazprom Neft, Kremlin reveals. The companies are preparing to sign an agreement that will cover joint offshore drilling in the Russian Arctic as well as shale oil projects onshore in Western Siberia, reports The Telegraph.
New Hapag-Lloyd Feeder Service for Baltic Region
Finland Express (FIX) will improve the Baltic region’s links to Hapag-Lloyd’s worldwide service network in Hamburg and Bremerhaven, Second weekly departure for key ports in Russia and Finland Hapag-Lloyd will launch its new Finland Express Service (FIX) on April 2 to improve links
Arctic LNG Plant Project Gets Green Light
Yamal LNG, a J/V between Russia’s Novatek and France’s Total, granted permission to build a liquefied natural gas plant in the Russian Arctic. The joint venture, majority-owned by Novatek with an 80 percent stake, received a positive assessment from the State Expert Commission for the