Marine Link
Friday, March 29, 2024
SUBSCRIBE

Northern Russia News

22 Nov 2022

Putin Touts Russia's 'Arctic Power' with Launch of Nuclear Icebreakers

(Photo: Baltic Shipyard)

President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday touted Russia's Arctic power at a flag-raising ceremony and dock launch for two nuclear-powered icebreakers that will ensure year-round navigation in the Western Arctic.Presiding via video link from the Kremlin at the launch ceremony in the former imperial capital of St Petersburg in northern Russia, Putin said such icebreakers were of strategic importance for the country."Both icebreakers were laid down as part of a large serial project and are part of our large-scale…

13 May 2020

Rosneft to Build Port for Its Vostok Oil Project

Š bborriss / Adobe Stock

Russian state oil giant Rosneft plans to build a port with maximum annual capacity of 115 million tonnes of oil for its Vostok Oil project in the Russian Arctic, the RIA news agency quoted the company as saying on Tuesday.Rosneft said in a statement previously on Tuesday that the Vostok Oil project could be supplying 25 million tonnes of oil in 2024, 50 million tonnes in 2027 and up to 115 million tonnes in 2030.Vostok Oil unites Rosneft’s projects in northern Russia, including the Lodochnoye…

08 Oct 2019

Novatek in Talks on LNG Transhipment

Photo: Novatek

Russia's liquefied natural gas (LNG) producer Novatek is in talks to tranship its Yamal cargoes in Norway or Russia's Murmansk because it is unsure of the impact of U.S. sanctions on the Chinese COSCO tankers it uses, a Novatek official said.The United States imposed sanctions on Sept. 25 on state-owned COSCO's subsidiaries, COSCO Shipping Tanker (Dalian) Co and COSCO Shipping Tanker (Dalian) Seaman & Ship Management, for allegedly ferrying Iranian crude.U.S.-listed ship owner Teekay LNG said last week its shipping joint venture in Russia, Yamal LNG, had been "blocked" by the U.S.

27 Mar 2019

Arctic (& Wind) Operations: Hands Across the Water

Renderings of the proposed Aeolus wind support fleet

As the North American offshore wind model evolves, it is clear that fit-for-purpose, Jones Act compliant and Arctic ready tonnage will need to be part of the equation. If so, we’ve got that box checked, with a little help from Europe.As of September 2018, the Walney Extension off the United Kingdom is the largest offshore wind farm in the world at 659 megawatts. There are at least 70 major wind farms, each with hundreds of wind turbines, each generating as much as 10 megawatts in offshore England, the North Sea, Russia and China.

21 Nov 2018

Arc7 Class Arctic Vessels for Yamal LNG Facility

A new ice-breaking liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker of the Arc7 class has begun sea trials by South Korea's Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) around the island of Geoje, Refinitiv Eikon data shows.The Nikolay Zubkov, formerly known as Hull DSME 2429, exited DSME's port on Geoje on Tuesday and has zig-zagged across the Korea Strait, the data showed. Ship trials for previous Arc7 carriers now in operation have lasted several months.The Arc7 tankers, for Novatek's Yamal LNG facility in northern Russia, are able to cross the Northern Sea Route eastwards to Asia during the summer and westwards to Europe throughout the year…

13 Nov 2018

Fast Delivery of Beloe More to Siberian Harbor Before Winter

Beloe More (Photo: Damen)

The Beloe More recently joined its sister vessel Severnaya Dvina in the Port of Sabetta, northern Russia. The 2,000 m3 hopper dredger was delivered from stock to FSUE ROSMORPORT. The customized hopper dredger will perform maintenance duties and execute capital dredging in the newly created harbor.The Beloe More - meaning ‘White Sea’ in Russian - is not the first vessel Damen has delivered to ROSMORPORT. As Vadim Akimov, Damen Sales Director, explains : “ROSMORPORT is the Russian enterprise responsible for the accessibility of all major Russian sea ports.

12 Nov 2018

Ice-breaking Tanker Heads for Russia to Load Yamal LNG

A new ice-breaking tanker capable of navigating the Arctic on its own is set to load its first liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipment from Russia's fast-expanding Yamal facility.The Georgiy Brusilov left South Korea's Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering shipyard at the weekend and is due at Yamal's Sabetta port on Nov. 28, Refinitiv Eikon data shows.It is the eighth ARC7-class LNG carrier, which are longer than the Titanic, to join the Yamal fleet operated by Teekay, Mitsui OSK Lines and Dynagas, with another seven expected.The vessels have enabled Yamal's operator Novatek to ramp up production since its first LNG cargo at the end of last year…

01 Oct 2018

Ice-class LNG Carrier Rudolf Samoylovich Delivered

Rudolf Samoylovich (Photo: Teekay)

The second 170,000-cubic-meter ice-class liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier provided by Teekay to the Yamal LNG project was delivered to the charterer in Sabetta, Russia, in September.The new ship, Rudolf Samoylovich, was delivered on September 6, nearly three months earlier than anticipated, at the request of the charterer.The vessel joins the Eduard Toll as the second of six Arc-7 LNG carriers that Teekay will provide to the Yamal LNG project by 2020.The vessel transited the…

14 Sep 2018

DNV GL Pact with WeatherTech on Wind Turbines

DNV GL, the world’s largest resource of independent energy experts and certification body, today announced that it has joined forces with Swedish atmospheric science experts, WeatherTech.The combined expertise of both companies will enable the development of the most advanced icing model for wind turbines available on the market, allowing customers to better predict the performance of turbines in cold climates.In cold climates, the performance of wind turbines is significantly reduced by ice accretion, the gradual build-up of ice on the turbine blades. The impact of ice on turbine performance is a major challenge for developing and operating wind farms in cold climates…

05 Sep 2018

Three New Arctic-class Ships on Way to Yamal LNG Terminal

Three new liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers capable of plowing through the Arctic ice have completed sea trials in recent weeks and are due to start operations at the Yamal LNG terminal in northern Russia, Reuters shipping data shows.Novatek's Yamal terminal has been ramping up LNG shipments faster than expected after loading its first cargo in December 2017, with two trains now running at capacity and a third being commissioned.As part of the project, the first along northern Russian shores that are trapped by thick ice for most of the year, 15 carriers in the Arc7 class were ordered from South Korea's Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine…

29 Mar 2018

New Icebreaking LNG Carrier Enters Service

Icebreaking LNG carrier Vladimir Rusanov during ice trials in the Arctic Ocean (Photo: MOL)

A new icebreaking liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier jointly owned by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) and China COSCO Shipping Corporation Limited (China COSCO Shipping) loaded its first cargo at the Yamal LNG plant in northern Russia. The 299m, 172,000m3 Vladimir Rusanov conducted it is first loading for Yamal LNG at Sabetta port on March 27 and 28. Vladimir Rusanov left South Korea’s Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co., Ltd. (DSME) Okpo shipyard after her naming ceremony in December 2017 and headed to the Arctic Ocean through the Suez Canal for three weeks of ice trials.

19 Mar 2018

Sovcomflot Better, Despite Challenging Year

PAO Sovcomflot (SCF Group), one of the world leaders in energy shipping and marine services to offshore oil and gas upstream projects, said that its gross revenue for the full year to 31 December 2017 grew by 3.4% to $1.43 billion. According to the statement, 2017 proved to be one of the worst years for the conventional tanker market in the last quarter of a century, with similar conditions experienced to those seen in 2011 and 1992. Conventional tanker freight rates fell by almost 50 per cent year-on-year, reflecting an oversupply of speculative orders following the 2015 market spike, as well as the effect of sustained production cuts by OPEC and other oil producing nations and a backwardation in the oil trade.

02 May 2016

China Equipments to Yamal LNG

The first shipment of a ‘core kit’ for Russia’s Yamal LNG project has set sail for northern Russia from the Chinese port of Qingdao. China's first batch of two air cooled condensing modules of LNG project are the biggest and heaviest kits being used for the project. They are set to arrive at the construction site in late June, says China Central Television. Yamal is a liquefied natural gas project located deep in the Russian Arctic. It is expected to start operating next year. 85 percent of the liquefied natural gas will be transported to the Asia Pacific market. It is China's first export of LNG core modules, indicating that China has entered into the international high-end oil and gas equipment market.

01 Apr 2016

Dynagas Partners inks long-term deals for two LNG Vessels

Monaco – March 31, 2016 –Dynagas LNG Partners LP. * Gazprom Global LNG Limited has extended its current charter for the 2007-built LNG carrier Ob River, on the same terms, until May 1, 2018 (plus or minus 15 days). In addition, the Partnership has entered into a new long-term time charter agreement with Gazprom Marketing and Trading Pte. Ltd., an affiliate of Gazprom, for the Ob River, which is expected to commence immediately following the vessel’s redelivery from its current charter with Gazprom, for a period of 10 years (plus or minus 15 days). *  The Partnership has entered into a new long-term time charter agreement for its 2013-built LNG carrier Lena River for the Yamal LNG Project.

12 Feb 2015

Wärtsilä DF Engines for Icebreaking LNG Carriers

Five new Arc 7 design ice-class LNG carriers being built at the Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) yard in South Korea will be powered by a total of 30 Wärtsilä 50DF dual-fuel engines. The vessels will operate in arctic conditions to serve the Yamal LNG project in Northern Russia. The order was placed in January with Wärtsilä's joint venture company, Wärtsilä Hyundai Engine Co. (WHEC) who will also build the engines in South Korea. Each of the LNG carriers will be fitted with four 12-cylinder Wärtsilä 50DF engines and two 9-cylinder Wärtsilä 50DF engines. The engines will primarily utilise liquefied natural gas (LNG) as fuel, but are also capable of running on conventional marine diesel fuels.

10 Nov 2014

Wärtsilä Dual-Fuel Solution for Icebreaking LNG Carriers

Depiction courtesy Wartsila

The Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) yard in South Korea has ordered a total of 54 Wärtsilä dual fuel engines to power 172,600 cbm icebreaking LNG carriers being built for use in arctic conditions to serve the Yamal LNG project in Northern Russia. The ships will be owned by one joint venture between Teekay LNG Partners of Canada and China LNG Shipping (CLNG), and another joint venture between China Shipping LNG Investment Co.,Ltd. (CSLNG) and Japan based Mitsui O.S.K.

29 Jul 2014

Floating Production: $1.2b Speculative FLNG Ordered

The floating production business continues to be very strong, particularly in the LNG gas processing sector. Last month saw a speculatively ordered floating liquefaction plant – a $1.2 billion contract – as well as several regasification vessel contracts. Here’s a snapshot of what’s happening in the business. In total, 320 oil/gas floating production units are now in service, on order or available for reuse on another field. FPSOs account for 65% of the existing systems, 78% of systems on order. Production semis, barges, spars and TLPs comprise the balance.

09 Jul 2014

MOL to Launch Arctic Ocean LNG Route

Japan's Mitsui OSK Lines Ltd (MOL) said on Wednesday that it will start transporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) through the Arctic Ocean in 2018 using icebreaker LNG tankers. MOL, with its joint venture partner China Shipping, has ordered three icebreaker LNG carriers from South Korea's Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co Ltd. The new tankers will deliver LNG to Europe and Asia from a gas plant to be built on the Yamal Peninsula in northern Russia by Russia's second-largest gas producer Novatek, France's Total and China National Petroleum Corporation. With the melting of sea ice due to global warming effects, the Arctic Ocean route, the shortest shipping route linking Europe and Asia, has opened up in the past few years, a MOL spokesman said.

03 Feb 2014

Russia Sells Off Archangel Trawler Fleet

North Sea Fishing Trawler: Photo Wiki CCL

Dmitry Medvedev, Prime Minister of the Russian Federation has approved the sale of 100% of the shares of OAO Archangel Trawler Fleet, reports Russia's 'Arctic-Info'. Citing the Federal Agency for State Property Management, Arctic-Info reports that Archangel Trawler Fleet was owned by the state, and was sold to private company Wirma, which is one of the largest fishing enterprises in the North-Western Federal District. During public auction, Wirma offered to buy the trawler fleet at 2.2 billion rubles instead of the initial amount of 1.82 billion.

19 Feb 2014

Norway Buys ShipArrestor System

ShipArrestor trial with drifting LNG tanker

The Norwegian Coastal Administration (Kystverket) has signed a contract with Miko Marine AS to become the first national agency to purchase the ShipArrestor system. The two packages ordered are due for delivery this summer and feature sea anchors that can be deployed on ships by helicopter. The systems will help protect Norway’s coastline against the pollution and other hazards caused when ships lose engine power and drift before running aground. By dramatically slowing the ship’s rate of drift, the ShipArrestor creates more time in which it can be reached by a rescue tug.

03 Apr 2014

Wärtsilä Wins First Contract for New Arctic PSV Design

Image: Wärtsilä

A new platform supply vessel (PSV) to be built for operating in arctic conditions is to be designed and powered by Wärtsilä. This is the first confirmed contract for Wärtsilä Ship Design's new series of arctic PSVs. Wärtsilä will also supply an integrated package that includes machinery, and the electrical and automation systems, including the patented Wärtsilä Low Loss Concept (LLC). This highly redundant diesel-electric system provides additional reliability for continuous operation in various failure modes. The contracts with Kleven Verft AS were signed in January 2014.

04 Apr 2014

Fluxys Terminal to Tranship LNG for Yamal

Yamal LNG, a Russian project to produce liquefied natural gas from 2017, has chosen Fluxys' terminal in Zeebrugge, Belgium, as the transhipping point for gas from the peninsula in northern Russia. Russia's Novatek holds 60 percent in Yamal LNG, while France's Total and China's CNPC own 20 percent each. "Fluxys will now carry out all technical, permitting and regulatory processes with a view to provide LNG transshipment services," Yamal LNG said. (Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin; Editing by Steve Gutterman)

22 Apr 2014

Arctic Energy Exploration Efforts Heat Up

The first ever cargo vessel to sail from Murmansk to Shanghai via the Northern Sea Route, without the assistance of icebreakers, recently completed its maiden crossing, cutting a 65-day journey on the return leg down to 19 days. ABB’s Azipod electric propulsion technology helps to make the year-round journey possible. (Photo: ABB)

Oil and gas—and also mining—are the drivers today propelling Arctic maritime operations and the construction of new vessels able to operate in extreme latitudes. While the gas and oil resources can be recovered in the Arctic or far north and shipped to markets by sea or pipeline, the cost of doing must be balanced upon the global market price for those commodities. Ships and marine structures able to operate in the harsh conditions of the extreme latitudes require special designs and construction techniques.