East Russia News

Russia energy infrastructure has been hit by drone attacks and fires in the past month, adding to uncertainty in global oil and gas markets already rocked by the conflict in the Middle East.Russia and Ukraine have targeted each other's energy infrastructure in strikes designed to disrupt supply lines and logistics and to demoralise their opponent as they try to get the edge in a nearly two-year-old war that shows no sign of ending.Following are recent major incidents at Russian oil facilities in the past month:* A Russian appointed official said on Jan.

More shuttle tankers will be needed in the years ahead to keep pace with a projected rise in oil volumes needing transport, Rystad Energy said.Produced volumes requiring transport key shuttle tanker markets Brazil, Canada, Norway, the U.K. and Russia are expected to rise to 3.3 billion barrels per year before the end of the decade, jumping 35% from 2.5 billion in 2021, according to a recent report from the Norwegian analyst group.Apart from minor dips in total utilization across these countries in 2018 and 2021…

European providers of transportation and logistics services P&O Ferrymasters has announced plans to open five new offices across Turkey over the next two years as it continues the expansion of its pan-European logistics services into Asia.In addition to its existing base in Istanbul, P&O Ferrymasters will develop a comprehensive network across the strategically vital country by opening offices in Izmir on the Aegean coast, the capital city Ankara, Mersin on the south coast, Bursa in the Marmara region and Gaziantep near the border with Syria.Murat Bog, Freight Management Director at P&O Ferrymasters, said: “This expansion will further…

Marlink Japan, the Tokyo-based arm of global maritime communications specialist Marlink is celebrating 40 years in business this month. Established in 1978 as SAIT Marine, Marlink Japan is the second-longest serving foreign-owned satcom company in the country, and has been delivering communication services and support to maritime clients in the region for longer than any other company.With deep cultural understanding and local knowledge, Marlink Japan provides Customer Support, Technical Service, and Sales and Marketing for customers based in, or operating in Japan, Korea and Far East Russia.

Niels-Erik Lund began his passenger ship career in 1969 as a trainee in a Danish passenger shipping company, DFDS. In the nearly 50 years since, the passenger and cruise shipping industry has changed many times over, with consistent growth being the only similarity between then an now. Today Lund, President & CEO of Sunstone Ships, Inc., has an unfettered view of the expedition cruise sector that he helped to create. With the expedition and luxury cruise segments set for fast growth, Maritime Reporter spoke to Lund to help put the market in better perspective.

The Thome Group has announced the appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer, Olav Magnus Nortun, who will take up the position on 1st April, 2015. Mr Nortun, a Norwegian national, brings with him vast experience in the maritime industry, especially in the areas of strategic development and governance of production, knowledge management and systems related to ship classification. He has worked with DNV GL for many years in different locations around the world, culminating in his most recent role as Executive Vice President of its Classification Division.

Smith Bits, a Schlumberger company, announced today the introduction of StingBlade* conical diamond element bit. StingBlade bits increase run length and rate of penetration (ROP) while delivering improved steering response in directional applications. “In the continuous drive for increasing efficiency and lowering costs while drilling, our customers expect that each section is drilled from shoe to total depth with one drill bit at a high rate of penetration,” said Malcolm Theobald, president, Bits & Advanced Technologies, Schlumberger. StingBlade bits use Stinger* conical diamond elements optimally placed across the bit face. The conical shape of Stinger elements…

Viking Offshore & Marine Limited (Viking) which is building a portfolio of mainstream offshore, marine and drilling assets, said today that it has secured a 50-month bareboat charter for a land rig system worth approximately US $32 million. Under the contract, SGX-listed Viking’s wholly owned subsidiary Viking Asset  a Chinese land rig specialist from September 2014. The Chinese rig builder, which specialises in the design, manufacture and assembly of land rigs, has secured a contract with a major South-Asian energy operator, which will deploy the rig in North-Africa. Drilling will commence immediately on oil exploration sites licensed to the joint venture of the South-Asian energy operator and the local energy authorities.

Heavy lift operations offshore are an awe-inspiring feat, but an operation that requires consistent monitoring of man, machine and procedure to ensure they are conducted in as an efficient and safe manner as possible. Due to a growing focus on safety related to subsea lifting operations, DNV GL recently established a Joint Industry Project (JIP) to develop practical methods for reducing the risks and lifetime cost of steel wire ropes for subsea lifting applications, using an integrated systems approach.

Inchcape Shipping Services (ISS), is advising of Asian Gypsy Moth (AGM) regulations for vessels arriving at North American ports this summer issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Asian Gypsy Moth is a serious pest that can be carried on the superstructure of ships and cargo and is prevalent in some seaport areas in Far East Russia, Japan, Korea and N. China. U.S. and Canadian authorities intercepted a large number of vessels with AGM egg masses arriving in North America last year and are forecasting another year of high risk in 2014. Where vessels arrive without the required AGM documentation or on detection of AGM there can be significant delays in cargo loading or discharging activities.

The STX Turku Shipyard in Finland recently lost the order for a third Oasis class cruise ship and an option for a fourth to ”sister” shipyard STX France, when neither the owner, the financially troubled STX Group, nor the Finnish government wanted to inject a missing $64.3m to the capital of the shipyard. The yard is currently building two 97,000gt cruise ships for TUI Cruises. In January the shipyard delivered the world’s first LNG-fuelled big size passenger-car ferry, the Viking Grace for Baltic ferry operator Viking Line.

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, where it will supply the Arkutun-Dagi oil and gas field. Arctech has built two arctic offshore supply vessels for Russian company Sovcomflot, which specialises in hydrocarbon transportation from Arctic and subarctic regions with challenging icy conditions.

Inchcape Shipping Services (ISS) is advising of Asian Gypsy Moth (AGM) regulations for vessels arriving at North American ports this summer issued by the US Department of Agriculture and Canadian Food Inspection Agency. The risk of introduction of AGM into North America from Far East Russia, Japan, Korea, and Northern China is considered to be high for 2013. Asian Gypsy Moth is a serious pest that can be carried on the superstructure of ships and cargo and is prevalent in some seaport areas. US and Canadian authorities intercepted a large number of vessels with AGM egg masses arriving in North America last year. Where vessels arrive without the required AGM documentation or on detection of AGM there can be significant delays in cargo loading or discharging activities.

Unique Wellube successfully completes 28" to 58" Hot Tapping Project for Chiyoda Almana Engineering in the Middle East. Unique Wellube FZC (UWFZC) , a Unique Maritime Group Company  which is one of the world’s leading integrated turnkey subsea and offshore solution provider is pleased to announce the successful completion of Qty 3 off 28” Class 150 RF Hot Tap on 58” ASTM A358-304L Pipeline for Madina Group WLL and Chiyoda Almana Engineering LLC (CAEL). The end user for the same is RAS GAS.

Arctic offshore vessel NB-506 Vitus Bering was delivered at Helsinki Shipyard on Friday 21.12.2012 to the client Sovcomflot, the largest shipping corporation in Russia. The vessel will supply the Arkutun-Dagi oil and gas field in Sakhalin area, in Far East Russia. Vitus Bering is the first vessel of the series, the sister vessel NB-507 will be delivered in April 2013. ”Delivering this vessel today is an important achievement for Arctech. It is an important reference for us as we compete in orders of arctic vessels in the future.

Arctech Helsinki Shipyard, joint-venture, that is 50/50 owned by STX Finland and United Shipbuilding Corporation, is building two identical offshore icebreaking supply vessels for Russias largest shipping group Sovcomflot (SCF Group), the leading company in the world specializing in ice-management and shipping in harsh environments. The vessels will supply Exxon Neftegas Limited's platform in Arkutun-Dagi oil and gas field in Sakhalin area, Far East Russia. The development of the field is proceeding at good pace, why also the icebreaking offshore supply vessels are needed in the area. The main task of the Arctic offshore vessels is to supply the oil and gas production platform and to protect it from the ice. Both vessels measure 99.9 m in length and 21.7 m in breadth.

Construction of a chain of rescue centers on the shores of the Northern Sea Route has already started. Russia is upgrading infrastructure along the Northern Sea Route. Three large and seven smaller emergency centers will be built from Murmansk in the West to Chukotka in the East. According to a new Russian rescue concept, three main Arctic Fire and Rescue Centers will be set up in Siberia, the North-West and Far East Russia. The rest of the centers will be their subdivisions or branches, said Vladimir Puchkov, Russian Minister of Emergency Situations. Construction of the first centers has now started. One such center with 60 employees is being set up in Dudinka in the Krasnoyarsk Krai. The Siberian center will be equipped with helipads.

Mechanical engineering specialist, EnerMech, is to open its first office in India as a first step in developing a presence in the country’s fast expanding oil and gas sector. The Mumbai office, headed up by newly appointed Country Manager Steve Watson, will be followed with the opening of a workshop and storage facility in Kakindada, Andrah Pradesh region, by the end of 2012. EnerMech believes its Process, Pipeline and Umbilicals, Cranes and Lifting, Engineering and Valves Divisions can add value to exploration and contractor companies operating in the region.

Wilhelmsen Ships Service has opened its first warehouse in the Russian Federation. The warehouse is sited in Vladivostok, in the east of the country.   The Vladivostok warehouse will enable the company to provide its range of products direct to customers in the far eastern region of the Russian Federation. The range includes safety equipment, liferafts and lifejackets, chemicals and refrigerants. The facility will be headed by Alexander Makhmurdov, who is Sales and Operations Manager for Wilhelmsen Ships Service in East Russia.

Subsequent to evaluation by ExxonMobil, operator of the Sakhalin-1 project in Russia, Kvaerner Masa-Yards Inc., Finland, and Far-Eastern Shipping Company PLC (FESCO), Russia, have signed contracts for the design and construction of two icebreaking stand-by and supply vessels for the Sakhalin-1 project. The contracts are still subject to approval by the Central Bank of Russia and to issues related to post-delivery financing. With the contract for the second ship to be confirmed by early November 2003…

Arctech is building the vessels for Russian shipping corporation Sovcomflot to supply the Arkutun-Dagi oil and gas field in the Sakhalin area of  Far East Russia. Both vessels for Sovcomflot will be similar measuring 99.9 m in length and 21.7 m in breadth, with engines providing a total power of 18,000 kW and a propulsion power of 13,000 kW. The vessels have been designed for extreme environmental conditions, as they will be operating in thick drifting ice in temperatures as cold as minus 35 C° to supply the gas production platform and protect it from the ice.

The hull assembly of arctic offshore vessel NB 507 was started at the Keel Laying Ceremony at Helsinki Shipyard 3 July 2012. The ship is the sister vessel of NB 506 that was launched on Saturday 30 June. The offshore vessels are being built for Russian Shipping Company Sovcomflot and they will be delivered in spring 2013. The Keel laying at Helsinki Shipyard followed old traditions. The first block of 260 tonnes, that was set on the keel, has been manufactured and outfitted in Helsinki. The block comprises pump room and bottom and side tanks.