Russian Court Seizes Four Danish-owned Tugboats in Sakhalin

Vladimir Soldatkin
Wednesday, May 10, 2023

A Russian court on the Pacific island of Sakhalin has ordered the provisional seizure of four tugboats belonging to Denmark's Svitzer, the world's biggest tugboat operator, at the request of a Russian energy company. 

Moscow has been seizing the assets of some Western companies which have left the country or are scaling back their business there in response to the conflict in Ukraine and Western sanctions. 

A court ruling dated April 24 said it had ordered the tugboats seized in response to a request by Sakhalin Energy, a new Russian legal entity which oversees the production of oil and liquefied natural gas on the island. 

The document said Svitzer Sakhalin had written to the Russian company on April 19, confirming plans to suspend a contract for use of the tugboats. It said the Danish group had asked for the boats to be moved out of Russian waters and reflagged. 

The seizure of the vessels would remain in place at least until a May 18 deadline for Sakhalin Energy to file a lawsuit challenging the contract suspension by Svitzer. Russian daily Kommersant reported first about the seizures earlier on Wednesday. 

Svitzer and Sakhalin Energy did not immediately respond to requests for comment. 

(Reuters - Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin / Editing by Peter Graff)

Categories: Legal Energy Vessels Activity Asia Tugs Tugboat

Related Stories

SBM Offshore Starts Construction of FSO for Trion Oil Field off Mexico

MDL Secures Cable Laying Job in Asia Pacific

Petronas to Leverage AI to Expedite Oil and Gas Exploration Activities

PV Drilling Takes Ownership of Noble Corporation’s Stacked Jack-Up Rig

POSH Set to Tow Nguya FLNG from China to Eni’s Congo Field

Chinese Contractor Secures Offshore Oil and Gas ‘Mega Deal’ from QatarEnergy

Saipem Bags $1.5B Contract for Türkiye Largest Offshore Gas Field

Marco Polo Picks Salt Ship Design for Next-Gen Offshore Energy CSOV

CNOOC Brings Online Another Oil and Gas Project in South China Sea

Sapura Scoops Over $118M for Chevron, PTTEP Subsea Ops off Thailand

Current News

MODEC Ramps Up Hammerhead FPSO Work After ExxonMobil's Go-Ahead

Aesen, DOC JV Targets Subsea Cable Logistics

Timor Gap Boosts Stake in Finder Energy’s Timor-Leste Oil Fields

SBM Offshore Starts Construction of FSO for Trion Oil Field off Mexico

Russia Targets 2028 for Sakhalin-3 Gas Project Start Up

Seatrium Secures ABS Backing for Deepwater FPSO Design

MDL Secures Cable Laying Job in Asia Pacific

Hibiscus Petroleum Starts Drilling at Teal West Field off UK

Yinson Production Nets DNV Approval for New FPSO Hull Design

Hanwha Ocean's Tidal Action Drillship Starts Maiden Job with Petrobras

Subscribe for AOG Digital E‑News

AOG Digital E-News is the subsea industry's largest circulation and most authoritative ENews Service, delivered to your Email three times per week

https://accounts.newwavemedia.com