(As seen in the November issue of Pacific Maritime Magazine) Photo:The Russian icebreaker 50 LetPobedyBeluga Foresight leads the 12,744-dwt heavylift ship through an ice field in the Northeast Passage. -Philips Publishing Group File Photo
Between September 7 and 14 they were able to safely discharge 44 heavy modules for a Russian water power plant at the mouth of the Ob River before departing for Archangelsk via the Barents Sea. At Archangelsk the ships loaded 6,000 tons of steel pipe each before departing for Onne, Nigeria and a much warmer climate.
Beluga officials, who plan to operate another Northeast Passage sealift next summer with larger “P” class vessels, said there was very little to no ice to break along the route and that the journey saved approximately 3,000 miles and 300,000 euros per vessel compared to traveling via Suez. However, the charter for the voyage, General Electric, had to cover mandatory fees for the Russian icebreaker escort, which were not disclosed.