OREANDA-NEWS. December 25, 2007. Ian Craig, Sakhalin Energy CEO, at the signing ceremony in Sovcomflot’s Moscow office. Sakhalin Energy signed a joint venture agreement with Sovcomflot, Russia's largest shipping company, to manage operations in the newly named Prigorodnoye port under the Sakhalin II Project.

Prigorodnoye port naming process was accomplished in October 2007. It is the first specialised port in Russia, and will be used to handle liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrying ships, and oil tankers, from Sakhalin Energy’s LNG plant and oil export terminal (OET) in the same area.

At peak the port will serve approximately 160 LNG carriers and 100 Aframax oil tankers each year, which is approaching one ship per day.

The port’s loading terminal will comply with IMO standards. Navigational safety in the vicinity of the port will be enhanced by a vessel-tracking, management system (VTMS). Prigorodnoye is clearly set to play a significant role in the energy security of the Asia Pacific region in near future.