The Fesco Sakhalin was commissioned by Far East Shipping Company in response to a contract from Exxon Neftegas to provide icebreaking and support operations to the Sakhalin offshore project. It will carry out year-round operations in a support and stand-by ice management role at the Orlan platform.
It also has fire-fighting and rescue capability and is fitted with high-tech equipment for oil spill recovery, e.g. an arctic oil skimmer, 200m of oil boom and receiver tanks for recovered oil, all especially developed for the harsh offshore conditions.
The Fesco Sakhalin has a length of 99.9m (93.5m bp) and a 20.95m moulded breadth (21.23m maximum breadth). The design draught is 7.5m and it has a 3,950t deadweight. It registers 6,900 gross tons.
ICEBREAKING CAPABILITY
The double-acting vessel concept was concept developed and patented by Aker Arctic Technology (AARC). The ship travels bow-first in ice-free conditions. When it meets difficult ice conditions however, it approaches the ice stern-first using azimuthing electric propulsion.
The vessel was especially designed for the Sakhalin area, where extreme conditions up to -40°C expose the platform to the risk of becoming surrounded by grounded ice rubble.
BULK POWDER CARGOES
Rolls-Royce supplied the complete system for transporting and delivering bulk powder cargoes. This comprises six domed tanks each of 50m³ capacity, compressors, valves, other components and the control system with bridge mimic diagram. The bulk system has a working pressure of 5.6bar and is arranged so that two different types of cargo can be transferred to the rig simultaneously.
The deck machinery outfit includes two anchor windlasses on the foredeck, with associated chain stoppers, all dimensioned for 54mm-diameter, grade 3 chain. Two Rauma Brattvaag 5t pull capstans are installed aft and the vessel has two Rauma Brattvaag 5t tugger winches for deck operation.
POWER AND ELECTRICITY
Power is provided by a diesel-electric system which centres around three eight-cylinder Wartsila 38B gensets. Each engine can deliver 5,800kW of power at 600rpm. Electricity is provided by an ABB 6,847kVA synchronous generator. This supplies electricity at 3.3kV/50HZ.
A secondary genset is available for harbour supplies. This consists of a six-cylinder Wartsila 20 diesel engine which is rated for 1,080kW at 1,000rpm. The icebreaker also has an emergency Caterpillar genset.
PROPULSION
Propulsion is carried out by a pair of 6.5MW ABB Azipod V16 DAS pods which are designed to meet DNV Ice Class 10. These are used to ‘eat up’ the ice rubble while the waterflow flushes the hull. Each Azipod has four hydraulic steering motors. There is a hydraulic power unit with two electric motors connected to hydraulic pumps which provide the power for the steering system. One of the electric motors is connected to the main network while the other is connected to the emergency network.
There are also two Kamewa Ulstein TT2200 tunnel thrusters units with high ice class.
ELECTRICS AND HEATING
The main switchgear and transformers were supplied by ABB. The distribution boards and starters were provided by Estonian specialist company Harju Elekter.
Aalborg supplied a Unex CHB-4000 oil-fired boiler with Oilon RP300 M heavy fuel burner to provide steam for heating the cargo tanks and fuel oil, warming cabins and fuel oil separators.
The vessel is classified under the notation 1A1, Supply Vessel, Icebreaker ICE-10, DEICE, Standby Vessel, Fire Fighter I, NAUT-OC, DK (+), HL (2.0), DYNPOS-AUT, OILREC, SF, EO.