On 20 August 2011 the tanker Vladimir Tikhonov, owned by SCF Group (Sovcomflot), started her Arctic voyage from Murmansk along the seaways of the Northern Sea Route (NSR). The voyage marks the first time in the history of the NSR that such a large Suezmax tanker (more than 160,000 dwt, enhanced ice class 1A (Arc 4)) is navigating along this route, the Group press release said.
The tanker is laden with more than 120,000 tonnes of gas condensate, belonging to the Charterer Novatek. The cargo of hydrocarbons will be delivered from the port of Murmansk to a port of discharge in one of the countries of South-East Asia. The estimated length of the voyage is less than a month. The preparation for the voyage was undertaken in coordination with Novatek.
SCF Group continues the series of Arctic voyages from the Atlantic to the Pacific along the Northern Sea Route. In August 2010 the Aframax tanker SCF Baltica, of more than 100,000 tonnes dwt, followed the same route and became the largest ship in history to navigate along the NSR.
The present voyage is aimed at studying the potential for transporting the largest possible consignment of gas condensate along the route and of providing for improved economies of scale for such voyages through larger consignments. The route goes to the North of the Novosibirsk Islands, along the deepest sea lanes. At the same time the new route is challenging in high Arctic latitudes due to the harsh ice conditions.
Technical arrangements for the voyage were carried out by SCF Unicom and by specialists from SCF’s head office. They have worked closely with the relevant State bodies responsible for: navigational issues and hydrographic support for the voyage; the safety of navigation and also the protection of the Arctic marine environment. Russia’s Ministry of Transport, the Federal Agency of Maritime and River Transport, FGUP Atomflot and the Hydrographic Enterprise of the Ministry of Transport also took an active part in the preparations.
Taking account of the remote location of the Arctic route and the absence of a developed infrastructure, and adopting measures to strengthen the safety of navigation, a mobile search-and-rescue station has been equipped to fight potential oil spills. Meanwhile, diving and other specialist equipment has been deployed aboard of one of the icebreakers throughout the tanker’s voyage.
All necessary means of communication, that enables the transmission of appropriate data and technical voyage parameters from the vessel in real time, have been arranged aboard the tanker, including a Glonass system.
The ship’s crew, headed by Master Dmitry Belov, consists of 25 seafarers with significant experience of ice shipping. Ice watch has been enhanced by additional job positions. The tanker Vladimir Tikhonov is being escorted by the world’s most powerful nuclear-powered icebreakers Yamal and 50 Years of Victory.
During the voyage the icebreaking capability of these large ice-breakers will be determined using old ice conditions found in the most challenging Arctic regions; the maneuverability characteristics of the tanker whilst navigating as a part of a convoy with icebreaker escort, will also be specified. The ship’s arrival in the port of destination is being scheduled for the second part of September.
The high latitude route, along which Vladimir Tikhonov is sailing, can also be used by other ships to provide seaborne transportation for energy from Russia’s Arctic fields.
SCF Group of Companies (SCF) is one of the world's leading shipping companies, specializing in crude oil, petroleum products and liquefied gas transportation. The fleet includes 157 vessels with a total deadweight of 11.8 million tonnes. The company is registered in St. Petersburg with offices in Moscow, Novorossiysk, Murmansk, Vladivostok, London, Limassol, Madrid and Singapore.
The Group offers a wide range and a powerful grouping of vessels, in the market segments most demanded by major Russian oil and gas companies. With its own technical development and a unique approach to advanced technologies, Sovcomflot has the ability to meet the most demanding customer requirements, providing effective transportation for oil & gas companies. www.scf-group.ru
OAO Novatek – the major independent and the second largest (by production volume) natural gas producer of Russia. Established in 1994, the company is engaged in the prospecting, producing and processing of gas and liquid hydrocarbons. The company’s fields and licenses are in the Yamal-Nenetsk Autonomous Region – the world’s biggest region for natural gas production, which contains about 90 per cent of Russia’s natural gas production and approximately 20 per cent of the world’s natural gas production.
Novatek is implementing the Yamal LNG Project which envisages setting up facilities for the production, storage and loading of liquefied natural gas (LNG) on the basis of the resources of the South Tambeysky field (Yamal peninsula). The project stipulates the construction of an LNG Plant with the capacity of producing 15 million tonnes of LNG and 1 million tonnes of gas condensate. The first production stage of the LNG Plant is scheduled to be started in 2016. The LNG produced will be transported along the Northern Sea Route.
Northern Sea Route (NSR) – the shortest sea lane between the European part of Russia and Russia’s Far East, historically it formed a national transport communication system in the Arctic.
The tanker is laden with more than 120,000 tonnes of gas condensate, belonging to the Charterer Novatek. The cargo of hydrocarbons will be delivered from the port of Murmansk to a port of discharge in one of the countries of South-East Asia. The estimated length of the voyage is less than a month. The preparation for the voyage was undertaken in coordination with Novatek.
SCF Group continues the series of Arctic voyages from the Atlantic to the Pacific along the Northern Sea Route. In August 2010 the Aframax tanker SCF Baltica, of more than 100,000 tonnes dwt, followed the same route and became the largest ship in history to navigate along the NSR.
The present voyage is aimed at studying the potential for transporting the largest possible consignment of gas condensate along the route and of providing for improved economies of scale for such voyages through larger consignments. The route goes to the North of the Novosibirsk Islands, along the deepest sea lanes. At the same time the new route is challenging in high Arctic latitudes due to the harsh ice conditions.
Technical arrangements for the voyage were carried out by SCF Unicom and by specialists from SCF’s head office. They have worked closely with the relevant State bodies responsible for: navigational issues and hydrographic support for the voyage; the safety of navigation and also the protection of the Arctic marine environment. Russia’s Ministry of Transport, the Federal Agency of Maritime and River Transport, FGUP Atomflot and the Hydrographic Enterprise of the Ministry of Transport also took an active part in the preparations.
Taking account of the remote location of the Arctic route and the absence of a developed infrastructure, and adopting measures to strengthen the safety of navigation, a mobile search-and-rescue station has been equipped to fight potential oil spills. Meanwhile, diving and other specialist equipment has been deployed aboard of one of the icebreakers throughout the tanker’s voyage.
All necessary means of communication, that enables the transmission of appropriate data and technical voyage parameters from the vessel in real time, have been arranged aboard the tanker, including a Glonass system.
The ship’s crew, headed by Master Dmitry Belov, consists of 25 seafarers with significant experience of ice shipping. Ice watch has been enhanced by additional job positions. The tanker Vladimir Tikhonov is being escorted by the world’s most powerful nuclear-powered icebreakers Yamal and 50 Years of Victory.
During the voyage the icebreaking capability of these large ice-breakers will be determined using old ice conditions found in the most challenging Arctic regions; the maneuverability characteristics of the tanker whilst navigating as a part of a convoy with icebreaker escort, will also be specified. The ship’s arrival in the port of destination is being scheduled for the second part of September.
The high latitude route, along which Vladimir Tikhonov is sailing, can also be used by other ships to provide seaborne transportation for energy from Russia’s Arctic fields.
SCF Group of Companies (SCF) is one of the world's leading shipping companies, specializing in crude oil, petroleum products and liquefied gas transportation. The fleet includes 157 vessels with a total deadweight of 11.8 million tonnes. The company is registered in St. Petersburg with offices in Moscow, Novorossiysk, Murmansk, Vladivostok, London, Limassol, Madrid and Singapore.
The Group offers a wide range and a powerful grouping of vessels, in the market segments most demanded by major Russian oil and gas companies. With its own technical development and a unique approach to advanced technologies, Sovcomflot has the ability to meet the most demanding customer requirements, providing effective transportation for oil & gas companies. www.scf-group.ru
OAO Novatek – the major independent and the second largest (by production volume) natural gas producer of Russia. Established in 1994, the company is engaged in the prospecting, producing and processing of gas and liquid hydrocarbons. The company’s fields and licenses are in the Yamal-Nenetsk Autonomous Region – the world’s biggest region for natural gas production, which contains about 90 per cent of Russia’s natural gas production and approximately 20 per cent of the world’s natural gas production.
Novatek is implementing the Yamal LNG Project which envisages setting up facilities for the production, storage and loading of liquefied natural gas (LNG) on the basis of the resources of the South Tambeysky field (Yamal peninsula). The project stipulates the construction of an LNG Plant with the capacity of producing 15 million tonnes of LNG and 1 million tonnes of gas condensate. The first production stage of the LNG Plant is scheduled to be started in 2016. The LNG produced will be transported along the Northern Sea Route.
Northern Sea Route (NSR) – the shortest sea lane between the European part of Russia and Russia’s Far East, historically it formed a national transport communication system in the Arctic.