OREANDA-NEWS. After completing work on the Sakhalin-2 project and undergoing scheduled maintenance in the first half of 2014, the Kapitan Khlebnikov icebreaker, which is part of the Far East Shipping Company (FESCO) icebreaker fleet, started heading towards the Kara Sea on June 20.

Under the terms and conditions of the Karmorneftegaz time charter, the vessel will begin to provide icebreaker support for the non self-propelled derrick, which will be conducting work in accordance with the state program on the development of large-scale oil and gas deposits on the Arctic shelf of Russia from July to October.

The icebreaker will proceed to the Pevek port independently, and will then continue its journey under the guidance of the atomic icebreaker Yamal as part of the first convoy from East to West.

The expected date of arrival of the Kapitan Khlebnikov icebreaker to the Kara Sea is July 20. The completion of the project and the vessel's return to Vladivostok is planned for late October - early November, 2014.

The company's icebreakers have been engaged in oil projects earlier, particularly including such projects as Sakhalin-1 and Sakhalin-2 since 2000. However, participation of FESCO Transportation Group in this large-scale project is remarkable due to the fact that it is the first time when FESCO's icebreaking fleet has been involved in a project in the western Arctic.

It is worth mentioning that during 60 years if its operation, FESCO's icebreaker fleet has proven itself to be a reliable partner by adhering to high professional standards in terms of management, crew member recruitment and training as well as vessel service and maintenance.