SCF Group (Sovcomflot) has called for the Russian government to continue its drive to improve navigational safety measures on the Northern Sea Route (NSR) and for a ban on substandard ships and crews sailing in the environmentally sensitive region.
The move follows significant sh[ds_preview]ipping traffic growth along the NSR and further projected growth. During a meeting with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, President and CEO of Sovcomflot, Sergey Frank, stressed the necessity of taking additional measures to ensure navigation safety along the NSR given the significant growth of freight traffic in that area.
In 2018, just the two energy projects in the Gulf of Ob (Novy Port and Yamal LNG), both served by SCF vessels, are expected to generate around 11.5 mill. t of freight alone, almost doubling the Soviet-era NSR peak record of 6.6 mill. t in 1987. SCF shuttle tankers have commenced year-round oil shipments from Novy Port in 2016, and Yamal LNG is expected to come onstream in late 2017.
Frank has expressed a hope that the Russian government will maintain the rate at which Northern Sea Route infrastructure is being improved to ensure that the existing navigation safety measures remain adequate to the needs of the growing vessel traffic. This includes consistently developing the navigational and hydrographic support system, boosting the readiness of rescue services, and improving the reliability of navigational and communications aids.
According to SCF Medvedev has assured Frank that the Russian government will meet all its commitments pertaining to developing the Northern Sea Route infrastructure.
Ban of substandard vessels and inexperienced crews
The environmental agenda, one of SCF’s top priorities, was also discussed during the meeting. Frank has expressed his conviction that given the vulnerability of the Arctic ecosystem, substandard vessels and vessels manned by inexperienced and poorly qualified crews should be banned from Arctic operations.
Half of the SCF’s 149 vessels are of high ice class, and all the vessels are manned by professional crews, many of whom have been purpose-trained for Arctic operations. This gives Sovcomflot a serious competitive edge over other freight market players – a position the company obviously seeks to maintain.
Series of LNG-fueled tankers ordered, more to come
Sovcomflot pioneers the switch to LNG as a primary fuel for Aframax tankers. The company has placed an order for a series of the first-ever Aframaxes purpose-designed to be run on LNG. They are scheduled for delivery beginning in 2018. Each 114,000-dwt tanker will have an ice class sufficient to ensure a year-round transportation of crude oil from regions with challenging ice conditions, including subarctic seas.
SCF Group says it sees its priority in setting up a production of similar vessels and placing orders for them at the existing shipbuilding facilities located in Russia’s Northwest and the Russian Far East.
