Germany's Combi Lift recently took delivery of a new non-self-propelled cargo pontoon from Damen Shipyards Group.
Named Tomsk, the vessel will be used to support the construction of Gazprom's Amur Gas Processing Plant near Russia's eastern border by transporting some of the largest components to the site.
The barge will be operated by AAS Amur Assets Shipping, joint venture set up by Combi Lift to support its role in the construction of the Amur Gas Processing Plant, 150 kilometres from Russia's border with China.
The new barge has been designed to navigate the very shallow inland waters in which it will operate. This involved minimising the weight while maximising the length and beam so as to increase buoyancy and reduce draught.
In total, Combi Lift is responsible for moving 176,000 tonnes of equipment and material that is required at the site of the new facility.
Following its handover, the barge was transported to Shanghai where it was floated onto a semi-submersible transport ship that will take it to South Korea where the first cargo will be loaded.
The transport vessel, barge, and cargo will then proceed to the Russian port of De-Kastri on the Sea of Okhotsk where the laden barge will be floated off to start the 2,370-kilometre journey to the construction site.
