Sakhalin Energy Investment Company (Sakhalin Energy) and Sovcomflot Shelf (SCF Shelf) on behalf of Sovcomflot Group have signed a contract for construction and long-term operation of a multifunctional icebreaking supply vessel for the Sakhalin-2 offshore platforms.
Operations under the contract will continue for 20 years. The vessel will be used as year-round personnel carrier and also as supply vessel for offshore platforms in the Sea of Okhotsk.
In case of emergency, the vessel will be deployed for personnel evacuation and oil spill response. The parties have also signed several memorandums of understanding for construction and operation of three additional multifunctional icebreaking standby vessels.
Russian shipbuilders will play an active role in the construction of the new vessels: SCF has already signed a shipbuilding contract with Arctech (venture managed by OAO United Shipbuilding Corporation) and structural components for the vessels will be produced in Russia at Vyborg Shipyard.
Sovcomflot currently has four vessels of this type, one of which is engaged in operations on the Sakhalin-II project.
