Nordvik

On Sep 11 about 1800 tons of diesel oil were transferred from the damaged tanker into another tanker, the "Boris Vilkitsky". Now, two nuclear-powered icebreakers "Taymyr" and "Vaigach" were escorting both tankers out of the Matisen Strait and the "Nordvik" will return to its home port of Khatanga while the lightered oil was taken to Murmansk. The Russian Sea and River Transport Agency said there has been no leakage from the vessel which had on board 4988 tons diesel when it hit an ice flow on Sep 4 and suffered a breach in a ballast tank.

On Sept. 5, the tanker hit some ice, which tore a 40-inch-by-4-inch-hole in its port-side ballast tank. The crew installed a cement box over the hole to stop the water flow, and the ship is now waiting for another ship to arrive to transfer its load. So far, no reports have been made of any oil spilled. Only one news source — the Barents Observer out of Norway — and a couple of Russian official pages mention the incident, which occurred almost a week ago. But it speaks volumes on several different levels. First, the Nordvik was apparently not supposed to be operating in even light ice conditions without a Russian nuclear icebreaker escort. The conditions in the area north of Siberia where the accident occurred were listed as medium ice conditions. Currently, almost a week after its collision with the ice floe, the Nordvik is reportedly drifting in the Matisen Straight where the accident occurred, waiting for another vessel to arrive so it can transfer its load of diesel — not the safest procedure in northern waters in the fall — and is hoping to be escorted back to the port of Hatanga by a nuclear icebreaker. At least one agency, the Seafarer's Union of Russia, is up in arms about the accident, saying the Nordvik had no business being in the Northern Sea Route in conditions that were beyond its capacity. The union further claimed in a release that Russia's search and rescue system is underdeveloped and serious accidents may occur to mariners because of the rush to get the route up and running. More at http://www.thebristolbaytimes.com/article/1337russian_vessel_mishap_serves_as_red_flag_to

Maritime Bulletin received an emergency report from Northern Sea Route, Arctic, Russia: Coastal tanker Nordvik collided with ice floe in Matisen Strait, in position 76 23N 096 15E (see pic), at 1520 Moscow time Sep 4 13. Tanker got a hole with resulting water ingress. Tanker is loaded with diesel fuel.