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Murmansk oil vessels for sale

Arktikmorneftegazrazvedka is based in Murmansk and owned by the Zarubezhneft company. Photo: BarentsObserver

The Arktikmorneftegazrazvedka oil drilling and exploration company is selling ten of its vessels.

Location

Among the vessels put up for sale are two tugboats, three tankers, one floating dormitory, an oil spill service vessel and two ships specialized for diving operations. In addition, the lumber vessel ”Pioner Koly” will be sold, an announcment posted on the company’s website informs.

Practically all the vessels are more than 30 years old.

The Murmansk-based Arktikmorneftegazrazvedka (AMNGR) is specializing in exploration and drilling in Arctic waters and has since its establishment in 1979 discovered 15 oil, gas and condensate fields in the region. A number of wells have been drilled, among them 33 in the Barents Sea, 19 in the Pechora Sea, two in the Ob Bay and four in the Kara Sea.

The company operates the ”Murmanskaya” jack-up rig. It also owned the ”Kolskaya” rig, which wrecked in the Okhotskaya Sea in 2011 leaving 53 people dead or missing.

Arktikmorneftegazrazvedka is currently owned by the Zarubezhneft company. However, the ownership of the company might soon undergo changes. As indicated by Zarubezhneft CEO Nikolai Brunich in an interview with RIA Novosti, negotiations are currently held with Rosneft about the use of the  AMNGR capacities on the shelf. 

As previously reported, Rosneft is about to strengthen its position in Murmansk. The oil giant is also seeking the 100 percent acquisition of another regional oil drilling company, the Arktikshelfneftegaz, which originally belonged to the Sintez Group.