From August 11 to 12, 2023, Dmitry Soloviev and Vadim Zorin, pilots of the FSUE “Rosmorport” Arkhangelsk Branch, successfully performed pilotage of the gravity-type base of the first technological line (GTB TL) of the Arctic LNG 2 plant.

Pilotage was carried out in section No. 2 of the seaport of Sabetta water area from the buoy “Utrenny No. 1” to the place of anchoring of the GTB TL in accordance with the design position.

The pilotage route was 5 nautical miles.

During the pilotage of the facility, the pilots of the branch had constant communication with 6 multifunctional and 8 port order tugs, the headquarters of the operation, located onboard one of the tugs, and directly with GTB TL.

During the towing, which was carried out at the speed of up to 1.8 knots on the route, there were regular hydrometeorological conditions with wind speeds up to 6 m/s and current speeds up to 0.2 knots.

During the 15-hour operation, GTB TL was successfully positioned and anchored for subsequent ballasting, winding and fastening of shore cables and laying on the ground in the design position at the quay embankment of the Utrenny marine terminal.

In order to predict possible scenarios and work out the coherence of the actions of all participants in the unique pilotage operation of a large-sized structure, the pilots of the Arkhangelsk Branch had beforehand taken part in the preliminary computer simulation of the GTB TL entering site No. 2 of the seaport of Sabetta, which were held on the basis of FSUE “Krylov State Research Center”.