Chinese Ships Flouting Arctic Safety Regulations, Delivering Cargo Through Ice

Chinese heavy-lift ships are navigating through increasing sea ice on the Northern Sea Route in an effort to deliver a power plant to a Russian LNG project in the Arctic before winter. Despite facing delays caused by a recent storm in the Bering Sea and worsening ice conditions, the two ships, Ocean 28 and Nan Feng Zhi Xing, continue their journey through broken ice ranging from 10 to 30 cm thick. Russian officials have closed certain sections of the route to non-ice class ships due to the challenging ice conditions, indicating a shift towards prioritizing the flow of oil and gas products over safety considerations in Arctic shipping.

As the two Chinese heavy-lift ships tackle the challenging ice conditions towards the Arctic LNG 2 project, a third heavy-duty ship, Hunterstar, is trailing behind in the Pacific. Expert opinions suggest that it is still possible for the nuclear icebreaker Siberia to escort the convoy of heavy cargo ships on the Northern Sea Route, although the current deviation of the icebreaker raises concerns. The crews face navigational challenges amidst the polar night as daylight hours diminish rapidly at 75 degrees north, increasing the risks of encountering larger ice floes.

Both Ocean 28 and Nan Feng Zhi Xing are likely non-compliant with the IMO regulation for ships operating in polar waters, the Polar Code. The journey towards the Gydan Peninsula poses further challenges, especially in the Vilkitsky Strait where sea ice has begun to clog the narrow passage. Despite the difficulties ahead, the crew remains determined to complete the delivery of the power plant modules to the Russian LNG project in the Arctic, showcasing the growing importance of Arctic shipping routes for transporting vital energy resources.

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