OREANDA-NEWS. June 18, 2009.  OJSC Transsiberian Reinsurance Corporation paid RUR 959 411 of reinsurance indemnity for Krasin icebreaker damage (owned by OJSC Far-Eastern Shipping (FESCO), port of registration – Vladivostok). Risk was accepted by the Corporation’s Far-Eastern Bureau (Nakhodka) from Dalakfes insurance company under facultative treaty.

The insured event took place on 14 January 2006, when Krasin icebreaker was involved in breaking ice channel in Ross Sea (Antarctica) for ship convoy heading to the US research station “McMurdo” which supports up to a thousand residents and is a terminal for many other polar stations. During a regular preventive breakage of channel speeding at 9 knots there started strange and unusual vibration in hull of icebreaker, which disappeared when the speed of propellers was lowered.

Next day, after docking of icebreaker to McMurdo pier, diving examination stated that one of the blades of the starboard screw is missing. Though, despite such damage Krasin managed to finish all the works, under the contract with National Science Foundation (USA) connected with service and maintenance of vessels heading to the polar station.

After she arrived at port of registration, icebreaker “Krasin” was docked for repairs. Surveyors’ examination admitted severe ice-bound conditions to be the cause of accident (according to captain, ice was 3.5 and more meters thick).    

After examination of Surveyor’s report and in accordance with insurance requirements, Dalakfes insurance company sent a waiver of insurance indemnity on 7 April, 2007. The motivation was that according to classification certificate, granted by the Russian Maritime Registry of Shipping, Krasin owns category LL8, which assumes icebreaking operations on coastal routs of arctic waters with ice up to 3 meters thick during winter-spring time and with no restrictions during summer-fall time. At that, the icebreaker is capable of forcing the way continuously running in compact ice field up to 2 meters thick.

However, the ship-owner noted that classification of the Russian Maritime Registry of Shipping is valid only in Arctic seas, whereas icebreaker Krasin was escorting vessels in coastal seas of Antarctica. Besides, January is regarded as middle summer in south hemisphere and no restrictions are applied to the ice thickness during this period.

The insurer, in his turn, noted that running in ice which is more than 3 meters thick is a violation of classification requirements regardless the territory (Arctic or Antarctica). 

The ultima ratio for the insured was the letter from the Russian Maritime of Registry, that classification characteristics can’t be regarded as operational restrictions. The possibility of using icebreaker is within the scope of ship-owner and marine port authorities and depends, apart from ice strengthening category, on ice situation, weather conditions and many other factors. 

Dalacfes insurance company admitted propeller damage of icebreaker “Krasin” as the insured event. Due to the fact that waiver of payment made by insurer in 2007 interrupted action period, the same period for the insured wasn’t expired.

Taking into account unconditional and additional deductibles, the total amount of starboard screw damage made up 1737 thousand rubles. On 26 May of 2009 Transsiberian Re paid 959 411 rubles of reinsurance indemnity.

For reference. There are a little more than a hundred icebreakers in the world. Only 10 of them can be compared with Krasin by their power. The vessel was built in 1976. The total shaft power is not less than 22 mW.