In early April a work group featuring representatives of FSUE “Atomflot”, FSI “The Northern Sea Route Administration”, JSC Yamal SPG and FBSE “Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute” visited the Tor icebreaker performing ice escorts in the waters of Sabetta Seaport. The visit was aimed to define the performance level of the existing icebreaking support system for the vessels going to Sabetta Seaport, as well as to elaborate a concept of icebreaking assistance for the future taking into account the start of liquefied natural gas shipment to gas tankers in Sabetta.

From the first decade of December 2014 the Tor icebreaker, which is on the balance of the FSUE “Rosmorport” North-Western Basin Branch, has been performing icebreaking services in the framework of the “Yamal SPG” project for the production of liquefied natural gas at the Yamal peninsula implemented by JSC NOVATEK on the basis of the Yuzhno-Tambeyskoye gas condensate field.

The icebreaker’s tasks include timely ice clearing near berths to ensure passage and safe mooring of transport ships. From the start of the works in Sabetta the Tor icebreaker has completed more than 70 port operations.

The high efficiency of the icebreaker during berth works is provided by four steering propellers, two of which are located in the aft and the other two – in the bow. They allow the icebreaker to preserve good maneuverability even in hard ice conditions in the limited water area of the seaport. Also, they help the icebreaker to break out ice from berths, in order to let another vessel to approach and moor at the berth safely. Due to such construction and the experience gained by the ship master and crew in Sabetta Seaport, ships are berthed and de-berthed without delays, within an hour.

Summing up the results of the work group visit, Head of FSI “The Northern Sea Route Administration” Alexander Olshevsky and Head of Sea Operations Headquarters of FSUE “Atomflot” Vladimir Arutyunyan pointed out the high professionalism of the ship master and crew of the Tor icebreaker, who successfully provide stable work of the seaport. Corresponding entries were made into the “Register of Comments and Instructions” of the icebreaker.