In November 2014 pilotage service of the FSUE “Rosmorport” Murmansk Branch performed an exceptional pilotage with further installation of GSP “SATURN” jack up rig for nonoperation period in winter after its disassembly from the place of boring.

The campaign involved 5 pilots of the Murmansk Branch, one sea tug and 4 harbour tugs. The rig was towed from the Murmansk seaport road to berth No. 45 of the seaport fishing terminal.

The pilotage was complicated by the fact that maximum depths on high water, the level of which reached +3.3 metres to the minimum level on the given date, make 10.6 metres with the draught of the jack up rig of 9.75 metres (with reserve). As a result, the time period during which pilotage on high water was possible was limited by 3 hours.

Apart from highly limited quantity of time and critically little clearance, low boards of the rig made it impossible to contact directly with the port tugs making pilotage more challenging. Because of this, during pilotage the pilots had to control GSP “SATURN” towing cables position against the tugs.

Thanks to well organized and professional actions of the Murmansk Branch pilots, pilotage of the jack up rig was successfully completed and took only 2 hours and a half from its beginning to the moment when the jack up rig was installed on the support and reached necessary level of clearance.

For information:
You can find more information on conditions and procedure of pilotage services provided by the FSUE “Rosmorport” Murmansk Branch in section “Murmansk Branch pilotage services”.