Sovcomflot Group (SCF Group) has increased the involvement of its fleet in meeting the needs of Sakhalin Energy Investment Company Ltd providing support for the Sakhalin-2 offshore platforms.
SCF Group, Sakhalin Energy, and Swire Pacific Offshore have signed agreements that entail the acquisition of two platform supply vessels (PSVs) from Swire Pacific Offshore by SCF Group. All three PSVs used in the Sakhalin-2 project will now be operated by SCF Group under long-term time charter contracts with Sakhalin Energy. The three ships are multi-purpose ice-class (Ice-10) supply vessels, which have been under the management of the joint venture SCF Swire Offshore since 2009. The vessels are manned by professional crews consisting of mariners from the Russian Far East and are operated under the Russian flag.
Under the agreements, the vessels will continue to be used for year-round delivery of supplies and consumables to three production platforms in the Sea of Okhotsk. In the event of an emergency, the vessels will be able to provide environmental protection and platform personnel safety services, including platform evacuation and fire suppression. As part of the Sakhalin-2 project SCF Group also operates three Aframax shuttle tankers (Zaliv Aniva, Sakhalin Island and Governor Farkhutdinov) and, in partnership with the Japanese NYK Line, two LNG tankers, each with a capacity of 145,000 cubic metres (Grand Aniva and Grand Elena). All these vessels are on long-term time charter contracts with Sakhalin Energy and are used to transport hydrocarbons from the port of Prigorodnoye to Asia-Pacific countries.
Sakhalin Energy’s production director Ole Myklestad said: “Sakhalin Energy continues to expand mutually beneficial long-term co-operation with Russian companies. The expansion of co-operation with Sovcomflot will allow the company to optimise the contract management process, provide the ability to charter PSVs on a long-term basis and increase Russian participation. Sakhalin Energy strives to involve Russian businesses in the Sakhalin-2 project to the maximum extent.”
Senior executive vice-president and chief operating officer of Sovcomflot, Evgeny Ambrosov said: “The expansion of Sovcomflot’s participation in the Sakhalin-2 project is in line with the development strategy of SCF Group, which is aimed at increasing the portfolio of projects with a long-term fixed return. The deal made has enabled the company to significantly strengthen its position in specialised vessels designed for Arctic and sub-Arctic areas. The icebreaking vessels being purchased by Sovcomflot are among the best in their class.”
He noted that, two years ago, the parties agreed on the construction and long-term operation of four multifunctional ice-class vessels for the Sakhalin-2 project. The first vessel of the series – Gennady Nevelskoy – has been already launched and will soon join the SCF fleet.
© 2023 Riviera Maritime Media Ltd.