What Crew Members Say About Marshal-Vasilevskiy

In a striking development, Estonian border patrols have observed the Russian LNG tanker 'Marshal Vasilevskiy' equipped with mounted machine guns in the Baltic Sea. This sighting, labeled as the first of its kind, is interpreted by security analysts as a possible reaction from Russia to the ongoing threat from Ukrainian drone incursions. During a routine aerial reconnaissance mission, Estonian security forces captured photographs of the vessel, reportedly positioned north of Hiiumaa Island near the Gulf of Finland's entrance. Upon closely analyzing the images, authorities identified two heavy Kord machine guns, with a caliber of 12.7 millimeters, strategically positioned above the ship's bridge. Wooden pallets alongside sandbags formed four firing positions at the corners of the bridge wings, suggesting the vessel's intent to guard against potential attacks. The presence of armed personnel on Russian maritime vessels in the Baltic region has been noticed in recent months, but the presence of such heavy armament on a commercial ship marks a new and concerning trend. German naval officers had not previously detected this level of armament on Russian civilian maritime vessels in the Baltic. The 'Marshal Vasilevskiy' is owned by Gazprom, Russia's state-controlled energy giant, and serves a critical dual role in transporting LNG while also functioning as a floating gas terminal, effectively converting liquefied natural gas back to gas. This ship is pivotal for supplying LNG to the strategically significant exclave of Kaliningrad, which is geographically separated from mainland Russia by Lithuania and Latvia. A gas pipeline running through Lithuanian territory serves this region, causing Russian strategists to worry about its gas supply in the event of conflict. Consequently, the 'Marshal Vasilevskiy' acts as a strategic safeguard to ensure energy access for Kaliningrad. For complete visuals from the reports, visit: https://www.tagesschau.de/investigativ/ndr-wdr/russland-tanker-waffen-100.html

On May 14, 2018, the 'Marshal Vasilevskiy' encountered a significant setback during trials off the coast of Ulsan when one of its six regasification boilers, manufactured by Mitsubishi, exploded. This unfortunate event not only resulted in the total destruction of the boiler but also caused additional damage to the vessel. As a consequence, the delivery schedule for the ship, which is intended to serve the Kaliningrad region upon completion, will be postponed. The repercussions of this explosion underscore the risks associated with maritime trials and the critical need for safety protocols in shipbuilding.