Boskalis confirms this after a report in Russian Media. It concerns the Nordic Giant, a pontoon with a large excavator on it, and the Arctic Scradeway, a pontoon for dumping stones. Boskalis used the two ships in the construction of a large LNG port in Siberia. Boskalis reacts quite coolly to the news. “In terms of book value, the value is very limited,” says a spokesperson. ‘About 15 million euros.’
The seizure is the result of Boskalis’ quick departure at the end of February. Shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the maritime service provider decided to withdraw all non-Russian employees. Boskalis also terminated the contract with the port’s Russian contractor. In the rush, ‘a limited amount’ of equipment was left behind, the spokesman said. Including the two ships that have now been seized.
Damage post for Russian contractor leads to seizure of ships
Due to the departure of Boskalis, the Russian contractor of the LNG terminal had to look for a replacement. In the verdict, the court wrote that the delay caused to the work would ultimately amount to a loss of 7.1 billion rubles, about 107 million euros.
Novatek, the second largest gas company in Russia after Gazprom, has therefore seized the ships that Boskalis left behind. The LNG2 port on the Siberian peninsula of Gydan is Novatek’s prestige project. A gigantic factory is to be built where 40 billion cubic meters of natural gas from a nearby field is liquefied under pressure every year. That is about the same as the total gas consumption in the Netherlands in a year. Three LNG tankers can moor simultaneously in the port to bunker and transport the liquid gas.
It is currently uncertain when the project can be completed. According to Novatek, construction would be more than half completed within three years. Due to the sanctions, several European construction companies will disappear. They can supply the parts for which contracts have already been signed until 27 May. After that date, the sanctions against Russia will no longer allow that.