Page 46 - Журнал Sozvezdye Review - «СОЗВЕЗДИЕ» #39

pable of tackling tasks requiring nonconventional so- neighboring fields that used the seaport of Sabetta as
lutions. What also adds to our competitive advan- their transit point. And again, to be able to monitor
tage is the fleet of cargo and passenger transport and the quality of our service, we started one more office,
dedicated machinery. Selling transportation servic- in the village of Priobye (Serginsky River Port). This
es reliably and trouble-free can be challenging, and allowed us to increase the efficiency of cargo shipping
force majeures and high labor input are all part of to Sabetta during summer navigation. Between 2014
the transport business. One more advantage lies in and 2021, NEK handled about 670,000 freight tons of
our strong focus on IT services – for both internal Sabetta-bound cargo.
automation and tracking/warehousing solutions for – Did servicing the Sabetta-bound traffic lead
better customer convenience. One of our software to engagement in more projects?
products, NFS (Nek Freight System), was originally – While operating in Sabetta, NEK group was
designed to streamline the in-houses processes. Now, at all times looking for the opportunities to ex-
its distributed application allows our customers to pand geography of its services in the Far North. We
control their stocks and cargo transfers remotely in set our eye on the opposite shore of the Gulf of
online mode. Ob – deposits of the Gydan Peninsula. In 2016, at the
– NEK started as a south-based company and very beginning of the project, NEK-operated barges
has reoriented the direction of its operations to- were already carrying cargoes to the berths of the
wards North. How did this happen? east coast of the Gulf of Ob. Between 2018 and 2020,
– The history of our operations in the Far North NEK concentrated its efforts mostly on operating
traces back to 2008, when NEK was hired by Naryan- ice berths and unloading onto fast ice. We were re-
marneftegaz to be service provider for its Yuzhnoye sponsible for preparation of sites, approach handling,
Khylchuyu field. To enhance the quality of door to maintenance of access roads, and unloading. Among
door delivery, a contract requirement, we decided the ships we were unloading cargoes from, was the
to start an office in Arkhangelsk. In 2014, we were unique nuclear-powered lighter carrier Sevmorput. It
placed with the order to transport Schlumberger took off from there: From sea/river freight forward-
equipment to Sabetta and Yamal LNG project, which ing we moved on to using our own equipment to or-
marked the start of our involvement as a service pro- ganize local services such as transportation along
SOZVEZDYE #39 vider for Novatek companies in the water area of the winter roads to neighboring fields and servicing/
Gulf of Ob. It was then that the Arkhangelsk-Sabetta cleaning of motor roads. Having built a reputation
line was identified by NEK as having a good poten- as a reliable partner, we went on to organize fuel stor-
логистика tial for its future growth. But, while the dispatch of ages and diesel fuel pumping, and to service roads
within license blocks.
cargoes from Arkhangelsk was going smooth orga-
logistics nizationally, the acceptance in Sabetta was not with- – Where does NEK concentrate its efforts now?
out troubles, for which reason NEK opened the office – In the realm of northern projects, NEK current-
in Sabetta. As the project progressed, NEK was be- ly provides its services along the entire Northern Sea
ing placed more orders, building new logistics chains Route, including Vladivostok. Our efforts are cur-
and growing into a better coordinated and cohesive rently being channeled into increasing our logistics
44 team. In addition to marine transportation, we began potential in the commercial port of Vladivostok. As
to organize cargo delivery (along winter roads) to the to Arkhangelsk, it is a special place for us and has be-