Discover the Umka: Ratings & Maritime News

Irish Defence Forces launched a vigilant operation involving ships and aircraft after detecting two Russian government vessels, 'Umka' and 'Bakhtemir', off the western coast of Ireland. These vessels are notably equipped with technology potentially capable of disrupting subsea communications cables, raising alarms when seen near a recently established communications link connecting Ireland to Iceland. Both ships have a controversial history, having participated in the construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline and subsequently facing sanctions from the United States government. Upon their detection, Irish authorities swiftly placed both vessels under surveillance, utilizing Air Corps aircraft alongside Naval Service assets. An initial assessment suggested that the peculiar movements of the ships might be attributed to efforts to navigate adverse weather conditions rather than any nefarious intention. As of March 27, 2023, both 'Umka' and 'Bakhtemir' departed the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and are currently en route to the port of Malabo with an estimated arrival date of April 19, following their departure from Murmansk, Russia, three weeks prior. Throughout their presence in the Irish EEZ, the vessels remained under close observation. In light of recent incidents, including the explosions that compromised the Nord Stream pipelines, there has been a notable increase in surveillance of critical subsea infrastructures by EU nations, including Ireland. The movements of these ships sparked significant concern among Irish military officials, particularly given their erratic navigation in proximity to the newly operational IRIS high-speed subsea communications cable that stretches off the Galway coast. Heightened scrutiny ensued when an Air Corps aircraft identified one of the vessels towing a sizable platform, which was later confirmed to be a cable-laying barge measuring 100 meters in length.

After spending 18 months in layup near Ålesund, the vessel known as 'Olympic Poseidon' is set for a significant transformation. It will be converted into a standby vessel under the operations of Høyland Offshore and is to be rebranded as 'Sayan Cloudberry'. This change comes as part of a restructuring strategy by Olympic Ship, owned by Stig Remøy, which has led to the bank Nordea acquiring ownership of three offshore vessels. Among these, the 'Olympic Hera' and 'Olympic Commander' are currently on charter to the Austevoll shipping company, DOF, which also holds an option to purchase them. The 'Olympic Poseidon' was officially sold to Sevnor and transferred on February 13, 2017. Following the handover, the vessel was relocated to Steinsland in Bergen for the installation of firefighting canons and a rescue boat. While it currently lacks a contract, plans are underway for its reclassification, ensuring that its anchor handling capabilities remain intact. Høyland Offshore, already operating the 'Sayan Princess' for Sevnor, will manage the new 'Sayan Cloudberry', with intentions to offer it on term contracts. Financial backing comes from the owners of Sevnor Ltd., a Cyprus-based company, including Norwegian Gunnar Nordsletten who resides in Russia. Sevnor Ltd. also operates two ice-class cargo ships currently navigating between Murmansk and Yamal. Furthermore, they've formed a strategic alliance with Viking Supply Ships in Russia, with Sevnor handling marketing and commercial operations. In the offshore sector, the company supplies the 'Sayan Princess', active in the UK spot market, and is commissioning additional anchor handling vessels in Turkey set for delivery later this year. This project includes hull and superstructure components and 40 containers of equipment sourced from SPP in South Korea after a contract with an Italian firm was unfulfilled. As the transaction unfolds, the future profitability for the seller remains uncertain, with E24 reporting that Nordea had committed to a $150 million investment prior to its acquisition. Although the outstanding debt on the ship may have decreased, Nordea has opted not to comment on the specifics of this deal. Christian Steffensen, a spokesperson for Nordea in Norway, has declined to provide further insights into the matter.