SCF Sakhalin icebreaker

The 2005-built SCF Sakhalin ("ледокол "СКФ Сахалин") is an icebreaking vessel owned by SCF Sovcomflot (Совкомфлот/fleet) and operated via the subsidiary company SCF Sakhalin Vessels Ltd. The shipowner is a Russian state-owned corporation specializing in petroleum and LNG shipping. Originally, the vessel was named "FESCO Sakhalin" and until 2010 was owned by FESCO (Far East Shipping Co).

The vessel (IMO number 9307724, Helsinki Shipyard/hull number 504) is currently Russia-flagged (MMSI 273318120) and homeported in Vladivostok.

The icebreaker is a platform supply vessel currently long-term chartered to Exxon Neftegas Ltd and providing icebreaking services for Russia's Sakhalin-I oil and gas platforms (offshore Sakhalin Island) in the Okhotsk Sea, northwestern Pacific Ocean.

The shipowner Sovcomflot ("Совкомфлот"/founded in 1988) is Russia's largest shipping company specializing in hydrocarbon transportation (HGLs - hydrocarbon gas liquids) from the Russian Arctic regions. Of the fleet's approximately 150 vessels, more than 80 are ice-classed (with icebreaking capabilities).

The current charterer ENL-Exxon Neftegas Ltd ("Эксон Нефтегаз", a subsidiary of ExxonMobil Corporation) is the operator of the Sakhalin-I Consortium with operations off Sakhalin Island (the Chayvo, Arkutun-Dagi, and Odoptu oil and gas fields).

The shipbuilder (Aker Finnyards Oy) was founded as "Masa-Yards Turku New Shipyard" in 1989 and later ceased operations as "STX Finland Oy" (part of STX Europe) in 2014. The company operated three shipyards in Finland (Helsinki, Turku, Rauma) and had more than 2,500 employees.

SCF Sakhalin icebreaker vessel details

This vessel is the world's first large "double-acting" icebreaker (both the bow and stern have icebreaking capabilities). She can break ice up to 1.7 m (6 ft) thick and operate in temperatures as low as -40°C (-40°F).

The vessel (hull/yard number 504) was ordered by FESCO in 2003, with keel-laying on June 22, 2004, launch (float-out) on February 18, 2005, christening (as FESCO Sakhalin) on May 31, and commissioning on June 15. The icebreakers Vitus Bering (2012) and Aleksey Chirikov (2013) are upgraded versions of SCF Sakhalin.

The shipbuilding process was based mainly on Russia-manufactured hull blocks (produced by Vyborg Shipyard), which were later shipped by cargo barge to Helsinki for assembly, outfitting, and painting.

The icebreaker Sakhalin is powered by three Wartsila marine diesel engines (generator sets, model 8L38B). The powerplant generates a combined output of 17.4 MW (23,330 hp). The Wartsila engines drive 6847 kVA electricity generators that power the propulsion (ABB) and all other onboard systems. A fourth Wartsila engine (model 6L20, power output 1.08 MW / 1,448 hp) serves as an auxiliary and is typically used during in-port operations (maneuvering and berthing). The vessel also has one emergency diesel generator (model Caterpillar 3412).

The propulsion system is diesel-electric, consisting of two ABB Azipods (azimuth thrusters, model VI1600, combined power output 13 MW) plus two KaMeWa bow thrusters (model TT2200, combined power 2.2 MW).

• Max draught: 8 m (26 ft) when fully loaded
• DWT (Deadweight tonnage): 4,298 tons
• Icebreaking capacity: 1.7 m (6 ft) - both ahead and astern
• Icebreaking speed: 3 knots (5.6 kph / 3.5 mph) in ice thickness of 1.5 m (5 ft)
• Endurance: 30 days
• Ice class: Icebreaker6 (RMRS / "Russian Maritime Register of Shipping")
• Cargo capacity: cargo deck (709 m2), liquids-bulk (3,850 m3)
• Crew and passenger capacity: 40 (22 crew + 18 passengers)
• Firefighting capacity: 2 monitors (1,200 m3 per hour each), water spraying capacity 1,000 m3 per hour
• Rescue capacity: 195 people

Note: In cases of poor AIS coverage, tracking the vessel's current location may be impossible. You can see CruiseMapper's list of all icebreakers and icebreaking research ships in the "itinerary" section of our Icebreakers hub. All countries and their fleets are listed there.