Rosmorport Issues $39.5 Million Tender for Underwater Ship Inspections

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Mfame Editor
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  • New Inspection Drive Targets Explosives Below Ship Hulls in Baltic Ports.
  • Tender Split into Four Contracts Covering Key Russian Baltic Terminals.
  • Eco Wizard Incident Raises Security Concerns at Russian Ports.

FSUE Rosmorport, the state-owned port operator in Russia, has announced a new tender valued at $39.5 million to hire specialised teams for conducting underwater inspections of vessels arriving at its Baltic Sea ports. These inspections will concentrate on the submerged parts of ships, especially below the waterline and under the hull, to identify any hidden objects or potential explosives, reports FAN.

Growing Security Concerns in Russian Baltic Ports

This initiative comes as a response to a series of mysterious incidents at Russian Baltic ports. One significant case involved the LPG carrier Eco Wizard, as reported by The Moscow Times. While initial reports mentioned a minor ammonia leak during cargo operations, the Telegram channel Baza suggested that an explosion had caused damage. Their report pointed out two breaches in the hull, with metal bent inward, indicating an external impact.

Another incident occurred in February at the Ust-Luga terminal, where unexplained damage to a ship was reported. Despite official statements attributing it to wear and tear, local authorities described the event as sabotage. So far, at least seven vessels carrying Russian cargo have been connected to incidents believed to be part of a suspected Ukrainian sabotage campaign.

Tender Split by Port Zones

Rosmorport has divided the tender into four regional contracts based on location:

  1. St. Petersburg
  2. Ust-Luga and Primorsk
  3. Vysotsk and Vyborg
  4. Kaliningrad

Each selected contractor will be responsible for conducting inspections in their specific area.

Inspection Requirements: Technology and Scope

  1. Awarded companies must use advanced tools, such as:
  2. Sonar systems
  3. Unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs)

They will inspect critical underwater structures, including:

  1. Propellers
  2. Rudders
  3. Thrusters
  4. Sea chests
  5. Bow bulbs

These inspections are intended to detect any structural issues or signs of explosive devices.

Proposal Deadline and Contract Awards

Interested companies must submit proposals by July 24, and Rosmorport intends to announce the selected contractors by August 4.

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Source: FAN