LNG tanker breaches safety rules in Northern Sea Route

The Cyprus-flagged LNG tanker 'Boris Vilkitsky', owned by Greek company Dynagas, entered the Northern Sea Route (NSR) with a number of deficiencies, violating several safety rules, according to the Russian NSR Administration.

Specifically, while heading to the port of Sabetta, the 2017-built ice class tanker, which is deployed to transport gas from Russian Yamal LNG project, entered the NSR with inoperative stern thrusters and port steering column.

A recent Bureau Veritas report indicated that the vessel suffered the malfunction in March, while en route from Rotterdam to Sabetta.

These malfunctions mean that she is unable to navigate in Kara sea either alone or with icebreakers escort, because she cannot be classified as an Arc7 vessel, but only as an ice class Arc4, under requirements by the Russian Maritime Register.

Except from this, the ship also violated the Rule 19 of the Rules of Navigation, after the master did not notified the NRSA of the ship's condition and faulty mechanisms, upon entering the NSR waters.