Some experts assume that the Northern Sea Route will get a more and more important route for the shipping industry. of Hansa Heavy Lift reports on some experiences of the german shipping company
The melting of the Arctic ice in recent decades has opened the tantalizing prospect of a Northern Sea Route (NSR[ds_preview]) between Europe and Asia. The NSR can save vessels up to two weeks’ transit time compared with the Suez Canal, which, in any case, cannot always accommodate the largest cargoes.
But there are many challenges to using the route, which currently is only open for a seasonal window of four months, and where temperatures can drop to as low as -40 °C.
German shipping company Hansa Heavy Lift (HHL) vessels have already successfully undertaken the NSR six times, using specialist heavy lift vessels equipped to cope with the extreme temperatures and working closely with Russian icebreakers.
»The NSR saves bunkers, saves on transit times, and avoids the high risk of Piracy around the Gulf of Aden,« says CCO Joerg Roehl, »but extreme weather conditions make it a challenging route. Conditions can change very quickly, and one-hundred-year-old ice as hard as concrete drifts south down the route and must be avoided. Experience, the right equipment and good communication skills are essential for a successful voyage.«
HHL’s P2-Class vessels successfully navigated the NSR at the end of 2013 to deliver infrastructure cargo and large tugs from the Russian Baltic to the Far East.
The vessels were E3 ice-class, equivalent to Russian L1, which means they can comfortably cut through sea ice up to one meter thick. To counteract the severe Arctic climate, air is bubbled up continuously from the bottom of the ballast tank to prevent ice from forming. The vessels are all equipped with two 700t cranes.
»Despite difficult weather conditions for part of the journey, the NSR saved us almost two weeks’ steaming time, which meant we could support our customers with their delivery schedules,« says Roehl.
The cargo included four assembled cranes, each weighing 400t and measuring 56m high, which travelled from Ust Luga, Russia, and six tugboats, weighing a maximum 700t, which were loaded at the Port of St. Petersburg.
»From the very beginning of this complicated project we were aware that there were limited options to deliver this cargo to its final destination,« adds Roehl. The Suez Canal was not a solution for his company because of air draft limitations. Sending the vessels around the Cape of Good Hope was possible, but not commercially viable.
The manager continues: »After careful planning and obtaining all the necessary permits from the Russian Federation, we decided to use the NSR. We undertook the journey under Russian cabotage waiver as the Russian fleet does not have vessels of this type.«
HHL worked closely with Russian NSR Operator Rosatomflot, which provided the 35,000 dwt icebreakers »Yamal« and »Taymyr«.
»Yamal« carved a way through the first half of the main journey and then handed over to »Taymyr«. Each icebreaker was then able to make its way back to its station at each side of the passage before the weather closed the NSR.
»Keeping a continuous information flow between the vessels and the icebreakers is vital. For NSR voyages, we have had native Russian speakers at the helm which had been very helpful«, says Roehl. Another important factor that crews have to take into account with the NSR is spray. As you come out of the NSR into the Berring Strait where the Arctic waters meet the Pacific there is always turbulence and a good chance of meeting strong winds. If spray hits the deck it freezes and leads to ice accretion, which can destabilize a ship in just a few hours.
»The weather has to be carefully monitored and we need to choose a safe time to make that last leg of the journey. Careful preparation, experience and professional voyage management were key to the successful completion of both voyages in this case«, he adds. According to the CCO the NSR is an important route which saves time and cost, »but it takes experience and the right equipment to succeed.«
Michael Meyer
