Sea Route

Northern Sea Route – Maritime Rescue Centers Planned

Russia plans to open the first of 10 search & rescue centers this summer The first, in Dudinka, will become operational in time for this year's Northern Sea Route navigable season, according to a report on Russia's 'Arcticuniverse' online publication. Russia is investing in the future of the northern Sea Route and is to spend nearly €23.4 million in development of ten centers from Murmansk in the West to Chukotka in the East. Three of the centers will be located on Chukotka and Anadyr, the other seven in Murmansk, Arkhangelsk, Naryan-Mar, Vorkuta, Nadym, Dudinka and Tiksi. A total of 980 persons will be working at the centers. “It is our intention to turn the Northern Sea Route into a key transport route of global importance”, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has said."  “We believe that NSR has a bright future as an international transport artery capable of being a competitor to more traditional routes, both when it comes to price, safety and quality”. The main challenges for a more use of the sea route are the need for new icebreakers and the lack of infrastructure, first of all instruments for navigation and communication and bases for search and rescue services.

Northern Sea Route Transit Record Likely to be Broken

After a slow start this summer mariime transport along the northern Sea Route has gained speed the last couple of weeks. In course of the two first months of this years’ sailing period only nine vessels had used the Northern Sea Route (NSR) for transportation of cargo between Europe and Asia, as reported in 'BarentsObserver'. During the last two weeks, things have really gained speed, and the number of vessels sailing the NSR has now reached a total of 22 – 13 from the west

Minoan Mulls Route Expansions

Greek ferry operator Minoan Lines said on Monday it plans to expand into new sea routes linking the ports of West Italy with Malta and Tunisia and later expanding to French ports in the Mediterranean. The company's statement on its plans was issued after Minoan's chairman Costas Kleronomos announced the decision during the delivery ceremony of the operator's newest vessel, the 2,200 passenger Festos Palace, over the weekend at Fincantieri shipyards in Genoa, Italy.

Jo Tankers Receives Charges from EU over Alleged Cartel

Norwegian tanker company Jo Tankers has confirmed it has received a statement of objections from the European Commission regarding an antitrust probe into bulk liquid shipping companies. Jo Tankers' legal counsel Bert Seevinck told Thomson Financial News: 'I can confirm that we have been informed that the EU has entered into the final stage of its investigations.' The response follows a confirmation from peer Odfjell ASA that the EU Commission had begun formal investigations of it in an

Tight stow for the Jumbo Javelin

Jumbo recently transported two huge Ship-to-Shore Kalmar cranes, combined with a total of 7 knocked down RTG’s from Taicang, China to Cartagena, Colombia for its client Cargotec.   Since the STS cranes were too big to handle in their fully assembled shape, both cranes were shipped in (still respectable) parts to fit Jumbo Javelin’s deck and cargo hold. Because of the enormous width, height and weight of the cranes and in order to remain within all safety margins during the

Northern Sea Route Off to Slow Start This Summer

The expected record number of vessels using the Northern Sea Route between Europe & Asia this summer seems delayed. In course of the two first months of sailing, only nine vessels of different types have taken the journey, but if the sailing season lasts as long as it did in 2011, there might still be time to break last year’s record of 34 vessels and 820.000 tons of cargo, reports Barents Observer. Nuclear-powered icebreakers have been escorting vessels in transit between

Minoan Subsidiary Picks Up Three More Vessels

Minoan Lines' 70 percent-owned subsidiary Minoan Flying Dolphins has maintained its very active buying spree of late with the announcement that it has acquired three ferries from the shipping family Nomikos for an undisclosed amount. The ferries are F/B Anemos, F/B Lemnos and F/B Macedon. F/B Anemos services the sea route linking the port of Piraeus with the islands of Ikaria and Samos in the Dodecannese, also making stops in the Cycladic islands

Transworld Signs Record Shipbuilding Contract

Transworld Group of Companies (TGC), an international logistics and shipping specialist, announced in December that it had awarded a $80m shipbuilding contract to Guangzhou Wenchong Shipyard (GWS) in a ceremony held at the company's headquarters in Jebel Ali Free Zone, Dubai. The group is aiming to strengthen its fleet to address the growing demand for sea cargo transportation and fully leverage the booming shipping and maritime industry in the Middle East.

Northern Sea Route Carrier to be Privatised

The Russian state-owned stake in Murmansk Shipping Company (MSCO) will be privatised by the end of 2013. MSCO assets are composed of fleets of three shipping companies: Murmansk Shipping Company (Murmansk), Northern Sea Shipping Company (Arkhangelsk) and Northern River Shipping Company (Arkhangelsk). The company handles up to 80% of all cargo transported via the Northern Sea Route, reports Barents Nova. Privatisation of a state-owned 25

Aker Yards Delivered Arctic Container Vessel

MS Norilskiy Nickel, an arctic container vessel built under NB 505 at Aker Yards in Helsinki, was delivered to the Russian MMC Norilsk Nickel. The vessel is intended for traffic on the Northern Sea Route. The vessel left Helsinki on March 3 for ice trials in real arctic conditions in Northern Russia. After successfully completing its trials, it was handed over to the owners in Murmansk on April 11. MS Norilskiy Nickel is a prototype based on the double-acting ship concept developed by Aker