The central processing platform (CPP) topside section on June 25 departed the seaport of Astrakhan and is bound for offshore V. Filanovsky field developed by LUKOIL in the northern part of the Caspian Sea. The CPP's topside is passing now in tow the Volga-Caspian Sea Canal, Rosmorport said in a press release.
To perform the towage operation for the large-sized section Rosmorport dispatched four 1 class pilots from its Astrakhan branch pilot service.
To ensure safe passage of the convoy, Astrakhan branch of Rosmorport in 2013-2014 deepened the canal dredging nearly 3 million tonnes of sediments. The convoy, including tugs, semi-submersible heavy-lift barge and the topsides, is 300 meters long, 64-meter wide, 45-meter high with draft of 4.2 meters.
The Astrakhan branch has an extensive experience in providing safe escort of such huge objects on the Volga-Caspian Sea shipping canal, however this year the canal water level declined making the operation complicated.
The CPP topside section is expected to arrive at the site in the Caspian Sea and to be installed in early July.