COSCO to Ship Modules for Kazakhstan’s Oil Field

China’s shipping firm COSCO Shipping (COSCOL) has been awarded a contract to transport modules weighing up to 1,800 tons from fabrication yards in Korea and Europe to the transshipment bases in the Black and Baltic seas.

A fleet of 18 semi-submersible vessels and deck carriers will be utilized to perform about 60 shipments beginning in 2018 and completing in about 2020, according to the company.

Under the contract, signed by representatives of all parties on September 27 in Astana, Kazakhstan, part of the work will be subcontracted to COSCOL’s Korean Partners, namely Dongbang Transport Logistics, Hanjin Transportation, CJ Korea Express and Chung Yang Shipping.

Transport volumes are expected to increase to the ports of Burgas, Bulgaria and Hamina, Finland with ultimate delivery to western Kazakhstan through the Russian Inland Waterway Systems by other carriers.

The transportation deal is part of a project for the expansion of a western Kazakhstan oil field.