World's Only Nuclear-Powered Container Ship for Scrapyard
The world’s only nuclear-powered container ship, the Murmansk-based 'Sevmorput' is considered to have no commercial future. The vessel, which has been lying idle in the Atomflot base outside Murmansk for years, was on 31 July this year taken out of the Russian Ship Register . The unique ship will end up a scrap metal, experts in Murmansk confirm according to a recent Barents Observer news report. The Sevmorput, which in the 1990s experienced major problems in international shipping following port restrictions…
Aker Yards Signs Contract with Norilsk Nickel
Aker Yards has signed a contract with the large Russian mining company Norilsk Nickel for delivery of four container/cargo ships for arctic operations, with an option for a fifth newbuilding. This order of Aker Yards' Business Area Merchant Vessels has a total value of approximately EUR 320 million for four vessels and follows Norilsk Nickel's recent deployment of the first vessel of this type, MS Norilskiy Nickel. The newly contracted vessels are scheduled for delivery by Aker Yards' German shipyards from the third quarter of 2008 through the first quarter of 2009. These specialized container/cargo vessels traverse ice-covered seas without icebreaker assistance, due to the double-acting hull form and propulsion system developed and patented by Aker Yards.
