Murmansk Shipping Company to acquire 147,000-dwt tanker in 2006
Murmansk Shipping Company plans to finalize the purchase of a 147,000-dwt tanker from a Spanish company in December 2006, the company source informed PortNews IAA. The deal is estimated to be costing about $10 million. This one-hull vessel was built 13 years ago. The tanker is to be delivered to repair facilities in China immediately after it is purchased. Another hull is to be added there to conform with MARPOL Convention requirements. Retrofit of the vessel is estimated to be costing $10 million, according to the source. Repair will take about 5-6 months, so the tanker is to start operation by summer 2007. It is planned to be used at the lines linking Arab countries with China.
Murmansk Shipping Company was incorporated in 1993. The largest shareholder of the company is Arctic Technologies company (60.09% of shares), 25.5% of shares are owned by the state. Murmansk shipping company is the only Russian shipping company capable for active work in the Arctic regions all-year-round. Transport fleet of the company and its subsidiaries totals 47 vessels with a total deadweight of 1013.6 thou tons including 9 tankers with a total deadweight of about 300 thou tons, dry cargo carriers and passenger vessels. Icebreaker fleet consists of 10 vessels with total capacity of 410 800 kWt, 6 auxiliary nuclear-technological vessels and nuclear-powered lighter carrier Sevmorput with a deadweight of 33.0 thou tons. Eight icebreakers are equipped with nuclear energy units (total capacity equal to 378 400 kWt), while Sevmorput has the capacity of 29 400 kWt and 2 icebreakers are equipped with diesel-electric 32 400 kWt units. Total capacity of the icebreaking fleet is 440 200 kWt. This fleet is the federal property.