West Russia News

Russia resumed oil exports to North Korea in December, United Nations data shows, the first such shipments reported since 2020 as the two countries deepen ties and the United States flags the risk of arms supplies to Moscow.North Korea has been seeking closer relations with the Kremlin and backed Moscow after it invaded Ukraine last year, blaming what it called the "hegemonic policy" of the United States and the West.Russia had exported 67,300 barrels of refined petroleum to North Korea by April, the first deliveries reported to the U.N.

Russian nuclear-powered submarines fired cruise missiles in the Arctic on Friday as part of military drills designed to test Moscow's readiness for a possible conflict in its icy northern waters, the defense ministry said.The drills, named Umka-2022, took place in the Chukchi Sea, an eastern stretch of the Arctic Ocean that separates Russia from the U.S. state of Alaska.Russia sees its vast Arctic territory as a vital strategic interest and has been building up its military capabilities in the region for years…

Three grain ships left Ukrainian ports on Friday while the first inbound cargo vessel since Russia's invasion was due in Ukraine to load, as Kyiv called for the safe passage deal to be extended to other cargoes such as metals.The July 22 deal marked a rare diplomatic breakthrough as war rages in eastern Ukraine, with Kyiv trying to rebuild its shattered economy after more than five months of conflict."We expect that the security guarantees of our partners from the U.N. and Turkey will continue to work…

Yamal LNG, controlled by Russia's largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) producer Novatek, is resuming ship-to-ship transfers in Norway, Novatek said on Monday, after plans to shift the operations to Russia fell through due to coronavirus.Novatek suspended transfers in Norway in June last year due to what it termed "pressure from the West".According to Refinitiv Eikon data, the Arc7 tanker Vladimir Vize is due to arrive at the Norwegian Arctic port of Honningsvag on April 1, carrying a cargo from Yamal LNG.The data also showed that an empty Arc4 tanker…

Shipping group A.P. Moller-Maersk said on Friday it is in talks with Russia's state-owned icebreaker operator to send more goods via the Arctic, which is becoming more accessible as climate change reduces the sea ice.Russia has made developing the so-called northern sea route (NSR) - which requires new ports and heavy icebreakers to move goods - a priority, with supporters dubbing the route the northern Suez Canal.Last summer, Maersk carried out what it said was a one-off trial…

Leonid Mikhelson, the head of Russia's gas producer Novatek, said on Tuesday the company will need to speed up construction of liquefied natural gas (LNG) reloading facilities after Washington slammed Norway for helping it to tranship gas.Allowing ship-to-ship transfers in Norwegian waters from Yamal in Arctic Russia, one of the world's largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals, undercuts Europe's energy diversification efforts, the U.S. State Department said last month.Mikhelson…

Wilhelmsen Ships Service has announced two key appointments in Russia as part of its ongoing programme of global expansion. Alexander Fomin has been appointed Account Manager West Russia and will be based in St.Petersburg, handling customer accounts in St.Petersburg, Moscow and the Volga River regions. Mr Fomin, who qualified at the Russian Far East Maritime Academy department of Engineering, steps up from his role as Port Sales Engineer for the company. His previous experience includes six years at sea as well as an appointment as technical manager for a shipping company.

Russia’s key role in capturing hard to reach Arctic energy resources has prompted two new initiatives from leading electric propulsion systems supplier ABB Marine, targeting both the nation’s newbuild and ship support sectors. The company has established a new marine service centre at Murmansk, committed to supporting vessels operating in North-West Russia through their 25-30 year lifespan. It is also refocusing activities at its established St Petersburg office, by appointing a new manager responsible for newbuilding projects from the design stage through to systems delivery, in order to develop closer relations within Russia with owners, class, designers, shipyards and research institutes.

Russian and Norwegian dignitaries, students and journalists turned out this week for education grant awards and cooperation signing ceremonies between StatoilHydro and schools in Murmansk and Arkhangelsk. “This is a very important occasion for north-west Russia and StatoilHydro. We’re signing agreements to train local students for opportunities in the region’s emerging oil and gas industry,” said signatory Bengt-Lie Hansen, StatoilHydro president Russia. He was joined by Lyceum no.6 vocational school principal Grigory Shatilo in Murmansk and ASTU director Alexander Nevzorov in Arkhangelsk.

OT Africa Line's presence in North West Russia and the Baltic ports has been strengthened with the appointment by the line's German agent, Ernst Glaessel GmbH, of a new sub-agent based in St Petersburg, Dealex Ltd. OTAL believes that, as a result, it has enhanced its operations throughout the region. The appointment of Dealex means that shippers in North West Russia will now have easier access to OTAL's container and break-bulk services to / from St. Petersburg and West and Central Africa. "OTAL has been looking for a representative within North West Russia for a while, especially in light of the recent growth experienced in the country's economy…

of St Petersburg are being hit as hard everybody else. Holding. The very cold weather began in late December when night-time temperatures went as low as minus 33 degrees C. with thick ice. with sheet ice 19 in. to 47 in. thick. drifting ice 7 in. to 17 in.thick. St. icebreakers. Within the port area icing is much more severe than normal with areas of accumulated broken ice over .5 in. thick in places. St Petersburg. out a bunker tanker to a ship in the port. conditions for some time to come. Before the really cold weather started bunker volumes were holding up well. total volume of bunkers supplied at St Petersburg was about 40,000 tonnes. but up slightly on December 2002. much lower.