The 66,855gt/2013 built Sovcomflot (NSR) tanker Viktor Bakaev completed her East to West Northern Sea Route voyage on 28th October upon passing Cape Zhelaniya. The tanker reached her port of discharge in the UK on 4th November.

This was the first NSR voyage undertaken by an SCF Group vessel in an east to west direction, and the last transit of the NSR during the navigational season of 2013. During the entire time the NSR has been open to large vessels (from 2010), seven SCF Group vessels have now completed a transit of this Arctic shipping lane. On 23rd October and after 35 days at sea, the Stena Polaris arrived at the port of Yousu in South Korea.

She had sailed via the icy and harsh North-East Passage along Russia’s northern coast. After arriving at her final destination, the ship was celebrated with representatives of the South Korean government, the corporate management of both Hyundai and the Stena Group and the port authorities attending. The 36,168gt/2010 built Stena Polaris began her voyage on 17th September in the port of Ust Luga in the Gulf of Finland with a cargo of 44,000 tons of naphtha.

The voyage is a joint project between Stena Bulk and South Korean Hyundai Glovis, the shipping arm of the Hyundai Group.