NS Concord is owned and managed by State-owned shipping company Sovcomflot (SCF), the biggest in Russia and one of the biggest tanker companies in the world. Sovcomflot is running up to world shipping best practices, trying to get its’ share of tanker market and prove that its’ worthiness is not based on tremendous cargo flow guaranteed by the State only, that the company is competitive on its’ own. But NS Concord's recent history just belies company’s leadership claim, it’s irrational and unexplainable from point of view of common good commercial and operational practice. Vessel’s AIS history was cut off in the end of April, vessel left Hamburg and actually, disappeared. It is said now, that she was under repairs in S-Petersburg for 5 months, but why AIS history didn’t record S-Petersburg arrival and departure? AIS could be switched off during repairs, but why wasn’t it switched on when tanker was leaving S-Petersburg?
SCF was always trying to be impeccable in general practices, especially in details, presenting itself as a first-class quality company, which has nothing in common with substandard shipping. But NS Concord's history is contradicting the company’s policy and practices. Vessel left S-Petersburg on Oct 3, AIS said she was bound for Danish Straits, which is kind of unusual point of destination for an aframax tanker of a world-class company. Let’s look at vessel’s track from a FleetMon AIS database (see below). Vessel left S-Petersburg on Oct 3, and reached the area of her strange maneuverings on Oct 5. Since that day (though actually, she could reach the area on Oct 4), vessel is seemingly chaotically moving around – for already three weeks, without any plausible reason and explanation.
It’s an aframax tanker, not a fishing vessel. Her operational cost is some tens of thousands dollars daily, she can’t waste owner’s money in such an extravagant way without some very good reasons. What are they, those reasons? What did she do in S-Petersburg during her “repairs”? Accidentally, research vessel Russia Professor Logachev, before leaving Kronshtadt, was undergoing repairs, too, and also during a five-months period. Coincidence?
I just don’t know. Was it some kind of a special project? It is said that NS Concord may be used as a relay station, maybe some kind of support and coordination station, but frankly, I can’t believe it, notwithstanding the facts.
http://tinypic.com/r/2i912x4/8
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