OREANDA-NEWS. July 15, 2009. The Murmansk Shipping Company is ready to invest in the development of the Shtokman field. The company – the biggest freight operator in the Arctic – says it plans to assist the Shtokman Development AG with the construction of port infrastructure.

In a press release, the MSCO confirms that it plans to develop port infrastructure, which when ready can be leased by the Shtokman Development AG. The company also plans set aside parts of its lands for the construction of a plant for manufacture of concrete pipes.

The engagement in the Shtokman field confirms the last year’s company trend with a stronger focus on oil and gas projects.

The MSCO is the biggest shipping company in the Russian Arctic with control of about 80 percent of all shipping along the Northern Sea Route. The company and its subsidiaries has a total of 303 ships with a total freight capacity of 1,2 million tons.

Until last year, the MSCO also administrated the fleet of Russian nuclear-powered icebreakers.