GM&T signs service agreement with Sakhalin Energy

Gazprom Marketing & Trading and Sakhalin Energy Investment Company Ltd. have signed a Service Agreement to provide shipping and marine advisory services to supervise the construction of one ice breaking Platform Supply Vessel (PSV) and three multi-functional ice breaking standby vessels (SBVs), ordered by Sovcomflot (SCF Group) for servicing the Sakhalin-2 project.

During the three-year contract, GM&T’s Shipping unit will support Sakhalin Energy by providing technical expertise and supervising the full cycle of the shipbuilding process in cooperation with the shipowner (Sovcomflot), including the vessels’ detailed design, construction, commissioning and delivery. It will additionally provide advice on the selection of technology, with specific emphasis on winterization and icebreaking solutions to comply with the most advanced industry practices.

The vessels were ordered under a time-charter agreement between Sovcomflot and Sakhalin Energy, for long-term operation of vessels in the Sakhalin-2 project. The vessels are to be constructed jointly by Russian and Finnish shipbuilders. They will be deployed to provide safe and reliable services for Sakhalin Energy’s platforms in the Sea of Okhotsk, including accommodation of offshore facilities personnel, emergency evacuation of personnel and oil spill response.

The PSV brings together the very latest innovations in Arctic shipbuilding science and technology. The vessel measures 100 m in length and 21 m in breadth. The six main diesel generator sets have total power of about 20 000 kW and propulsion power of 13 000 kW. The main duty of this vessel will be to supply between land bases and the offshore drilling and production sites. The vessel will be able to safely convey and transfer cargo on deck and bulk cargo underdeck in all seasons. The vessel can also act as a diving support vessel, including a moon pool feature.

The SBVs are a further development of the Vitus Bering series, developed and owned by Sovcomflot, Russia’s leading shipping company with a unique track record of operations in harsh climates and the Arctic. They are going to be equipped with dynamic positioning systems to maintain a stable position alongside offshore platforms and will feature specially designed hulls for stern-first navigation in heavy ice conditions.

Nikolai Grigoriev, Managing Director, Shipping, GM&T said, “We are honoured to have been awarded this contract by Sakhalin Energy which signifies another major milestone in the relationship between our two companies.”

“Over the years GM&T has developed strong technical expertise in ice class shipbuilding and operations and we really appreciate having the opportunity to share this experience with Sakhalin Energy. We are looking forward to working together with Sakhalin Energy, Sovcomflot, the shipyards in Russia and Finland and our sub-contractors in the construction of these technologically advanced vessels that will contribute to the safe and reliable operations in the harsh climatic conditions offshore Sakhalin,” he added.

He also said, “We are also proud to contribute to the development of offshore expertise in the Gazprom Group, the leading oil and gas producer and operator on the Russian continental shelf.”

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Press Release, July 8, 2014; Image: GM&T