Ice Class Tanker Report - March 2012

An in-depth survey of the technical problems facing tanker operators, managers and owners trading in areas of very low temperatures

18,000 word Tanker Operator report published March 2012

The ice class tanker industry is growing, driven by both a demand for oil shipments from Arctic oil and gas production, and from opening of the North Sea Route, across the North Coast of Russia. There were 9 tanker voyages across the North Sea Route during summer season of 2011.

North Sea Route voyages is not completely new - 200,000 tonnes of cargo shipped across it in 1993 - but this declined to zero voyages in summer 1997. The first western company to use the Northern Sea Route after this was Beluga in 2009, and Russian shuttle tanker operators serving Barents Sea offshore terminals and Murmansk around the same time.

Since then, we have seen several large tankers use the NSR on a trial basis carrying mainly condensate cargoes from northern Russia to South Korea and China, including the nine in 2011. There are more planned for the summer 2012 season.

Ice class tanker shipping is not for the faint hearted but it could be an opportunity for companies looking to develop new business, whether you operate vessels or supply equipment and services to them.

Tanker Operator's March 2012 ice class tanker report, "Another Gold Rush", written by veteran tanker industry journalist and Tanker Operator magazine editor Ian Cochran, goes into depth about everything we know about the ice class tankers so far.

Download Table of Contents

Read reports from some of the 2011 tanker voyages,

Market analysis - bunker fuel savings from shorter distances via Northern Sea Route, how costs compare with Suez Canal when you take into consideration the cost of tugs, documentation and benefit of avoiding pirate infested areas

Regulatory developments - the IMO Polar Code, ice patrol services, ice navigator competency requirements, polar and ice class certification

The Northern Sea Route - in-depth voyage history - experience from SCF Unicom (for Sovcomflot), Neste Tankers, Marinvest, Transpetrol (+ more) Developments with supporting infrastructure, charts

Guidelines from class - ClassNK, LR, GL

Information services - IMO's Worldwide Navigational Warning System, integrating ice data with electronic charts, ice predictions

Technical developments - stern first (double acting tankers), ice load monitoring

Available to purchase online from our online store,alternatively to order please e-mail Karl Jeffery, publisher, on jeffery@d-e-j.com , Tel +44 208 150 5292