15.12.2008 Mining and metallurgy giant Norilsk Nickel has included the fourth ice-protected vessel in its Arctic fleet. The company is now about to get independent of the services of the Russian icebreaker fleet.
Norilsk Nickel in April 2006 got its first ice-protected vessel. The company now has built up a fleet of four Arctic vessels, which are to run the extensive operations in the Barents Sea. The Talnakh was built by the Wadan Yards in German Wismar, a press release from the company reads.
The Talnakh has a deadweight of 14,500 tons and is capable of operating in 1,5 meter thick ice. The price tag of the new vessel is 82 million EUR.
A fifth ice-breaking vessel is expected to be handed over to the Russian nickel producer in few months.
The vessels will all be based in Norilsk Nickel’s new port in Murmansk.
Norilsk Nickel runs extensive shipping operations in the Barents Sea from its core areas in Norilsk to Murmansk.