Murmansk Shipping Company News

The nuclear icebreaker Lenin, the pride and joy of the Soviet Union's Arctic great game, lies at perpetual anchor in the frigid water here. A relic of the Cold War, it is now a museum. But nearly three decades after the Lenin was taken out of service to be turned into a visitor attraction, Russia is again on the march in the Arctic and building new nuclear icebreakers. It is part of a push to firm Moscow's hand in the High North as it vies for dominance with traditional rivals Canada, the United States, and Norway as well as newcomer China.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) announced that nine foreign flagged ships were under detention in U.K. ports during October 2013 after failing Port State Control (PSC) inspection. Latest monthly figures show that there were six new detentions of foreign flagged vessels in U.K. ports and three vessels remained under detention from previous months. Only six vessels remain under detention at the end of this month.

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 (Arkhangelsk). The company handles up to 80% of all cargo transported via the Northern Sea Route, reports Barents Nova. Privatisation of a state-owned 25.5% stake will be completed by the end of 2013 reports Barents Nova citing a recent meeting of the Transport Ministry.

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…

Murmansk Shipping Company was selected among other operators of icebreaking fleet by U.S. National Science Foundation (National Science Foundation - NSF) which provides U.S. Antarctic Program. The ice-breaker Vladimir Ignatyuk successfully works in Antarctica, including under the contract with the Center of Ocean and Antarctic Research of the Indian Government at Maitri and Larsemann Hills stations. The ice-breaker Vladimir Ignatyuk will provide services for piloting vessels for American polar explorers in difficult navigational conditions of Southern continent…

In 2006, Stena Bulk transported nearly 10 million tons of oil from the large Russian port in Primorsk, equivalent to a market share of about 15%. As part of its ongoing focus on developing projects and handling business support with a local presence in Russia and CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States), Stena Bulk has now reinforced its Moscow office with the recruitment of Felix Mikhailovski. Felix Mikhailovski’s professional background includes positions at Murmansk Shipping Company (MSCO) and the Russian Ministry of Transport. Russian oil exports from Primorsk rose from 12 million tons in 2001 to 65 million tons in 2006 and are expected to increase to 70 million tons in 2007.

Murmansk Shipping Company (MSCO) has completed modernizing the Natali supertanker, Interfax Russia reported. The China State Shipbuilding Corporation modernized the tanker over a six-month period. The tanker currently meets the requirements of the international convention to prevent marine pollution. Murmansk Sea Shipping operates the state nuclear icebreaker fleet under a trustee agreement for the management of state property. The MSCO fleet consists of 47 ships with total deadweight of 874,000 tons, including 12 ships registered to subsidiaries and registered offshore. The company manages eight nuclear icebreakers and one nuclear lighter ship. The company also owns two diesel-electric icebreakers. (Source: Interfax Russia)

Severe weather in Russia's Arctic has led to a build-up of more ice than normal at this time of year and is likely to cause major disruptions to shipping by October, according to the head of maritime operations at the Murmansk Shipping Company, which operates Russia's fleet of nuclear icebreakers that keep the northern shipping route spanning the entire north coast of the country open to shipping throughout the year. He said practically all the main parts of the northern shipping route now have more ice than normal, and it is drifting, making shipping extremely hazardous.

Severe weather in Russia's Arctic already led to the build-up of more ice than normal for this time of year and is likely to cause major disruptions to shipping by October, a senior shipping official said. "I have warned all possible clients that in October we will face big difficulties, especially in the second half of the month," Nikolai Babich, head of maritime operations at the Murmansk Shipping Company, said. "I've warned everyone that we may not be able to transport their cargoes as ordered. Murmansk Shipping Company operates Russia's fleet of nuclear icebreakers, which keeps the vital northern shipping route spanning the entire north coast of the country open to shipping throughout the year.

Samsung will build four ice-class 70,000-ton tankers for Russia’s oil major Lukoil to help it export crude from the Arctic to Western markets, according to a report on MosNews.com. The ships will reportedly will be built by 2008, though the company has yet decided who will operate the ships. The firm has reportedly shortlisted three companies including Russian shippersSovComflot, Murmansk Shipping Company and Swiss-registered trader Western Petroleum.