Fesco Sakhalin: New double-acting icebreaker for Sakhalin operation

Fesco Sakhalin, a double-acting icebreaker/offshore supply/support ship, has been handed over by Aker Finnyards, Russia, to the Far Eastern Shipping Co (FESCO). Fesco Sakhalin has been assigned to support the ExxonMobil drilling and production platform Orlan, working in the Sakhalin-1 sector (Chaivo field) in the Russian Far East on a 10-year contract. Principal icebreaking capabilities of the ship come from a carefully honed aft hull form in line with the double-acting principle and optimized for ice operations, and a pair of Azipod podded propulsion units, each with an output of 6500k W. The water flow along the hull, when the pods are turned to their tractor pulling position means that ice friction is almost nil. A large open-plan wheelhouse and control centers of ship includes controls for a Kongsberg dynamic positioning center as well as controlling the two azipods. There is also a separate extensive control console at the aft end of the bridge.