Caspian Pipeline Consortium
has been implementing a
long-term preventive maintenance project to replace the SPM-1 and SPM-2 buoys,
the project involving some activities touching the seabed: the submarine
manifolds will be replaced, anchor chains laid, caisson anchors and other SPM
equipment installed.It is noteworthy that
during the Great Patriotic War the Marine Terminal zone of operational
responsibility saw fierce fighting especially in February 1943 in the course of
the Russia beachhead assault in the vicinity of the village of Yuzhnaya Ozereyevka.
The CPC corporate magazine
dedicated a detailed article to that heroic combat episode of the Great
Patriotic War:
https://www.cpc-online.ru/publication/around-us/3994
It was stated before that
in compliance with the rules and regulations of the Novorossiysk Seaport and
the Russia Black Sea Navy, danger from residual munitions must be eliminated
before any activities that involve touching the seabed: it is mandatory to
carry out a comprehensive search for and eradication of any objects dangerous
from blast.
When the Terminal was being
built and later on, during the relevant surveys in CPC
Marine Terminal water area, some munitions dating back
to the Great Patriotic War were identified and destroyed. Nevertheless, one
ought to be mindful that any seabed is subject to the natural movement of the
layers of the sea and the shift of the bottom ground.
Safety of the works related
to touching the seabed being paramount, since the 15 June 2022 Russia Emercom
joint detachment has been doing an additional survey of any potentially
dangerous submerged objects in the SPM-1 and SPM-2 water area.
Mobile diving teams and
remotely controlled vehicle have been tasked to confirm identification of any
objects resembling munitions.
By the 28 June
2022, cumulative side-scan sonar surveys had covered 764,200 square metres, remotely
controlled vehicle had covered 8,200 square metres, 24 double dives had been
conducted totalling 53 hours 40 minutes and 11,180 square metres of seabed had
been surveyed.
On the 27 June
2022 the survey of the SPM-2 safety zone found an explosive object, viz.: an antisweep mine, 1943 modification, the estimated weight of
the explosive being 8.8 kg.
It was stated at the
earlier meeting of CPC General Director with the Emercom joint detachment commanders
that any confirmed munitions would be moved to the location of elimination with
due regard to the scope of the danger (off and outside the SPM safety zone). Risk assessment done, the identified object
dangerous from blast was moved away from the SPM safety zone and outside the estimated
shock wave reach.
Destruction
works of the identified explosive object was successfully carried out on 29 June
2022 by the Russia Emercom forces.
Currently, the survey of
the seabed in the area of SPM-1 continues, the operation of SPM-1 is suspended
until 5 July 2022.
SPM-3 is in routine
operation, which allows meeting shippers’ requests as per the current lifting
schedule. SPM-2 is going to resume operation on the 1 July 2022.
Based on the results of the
disposal of potentially explosive objects, CPC will receive the conclusion of Russia
Black Sea Navy Headquarters with permission to carry out work related to
touching the bottom in the water area of SPM-1 and SPM-2 transport safety.
For reference:
CPC Pipeline System is
one of the major investment projects with foreign capital in energy sector in
the CIS. The length of the Tengiz – Novorossiysk pipeline is 1,511 km. This
route transports over two thirds of all Kazakhstan export crude, as well as crude
from Russian oil fields, including those in the Caspian Region. CPC Marine
Terminal is equipped with three Single Point Moorings (SPM) that allow to load
tankers safely at a significant distance offshore, also amid poor weather
conditions.
CPC Shareholders: Federal
Agency for State Property Management represented by Transneft (trust
management) – 24%, CPC Company – 7%, KazmunayGas – 19%, Kazakhstan Pipeline
Ventures LLC – 1.75%, Chevron Caspian Pipeline Consortium Company – 15%,
LUKARCO B.V. - 12.5%, Mobil Caspian Pipeline Company– 7.5%, Rosneft-Shell
Caspian Ventures Limited– 7.5%, BG Overseas Holding Limited– 2%, Eni
International N.A. N.V. S.ar.l. – 2% and Oryx Caspian Pipeline LLC – 1.75%.