The tanker "Khatanga" was repositioned within the Port of Gdynia on Thursday

Port of Gdynia Authority has announced that the tanker Khatanga is scheduled to be repositioned within the Port of Gdynia on Thursday afternoon. The Russian-flagged vessel, which has been berthed in the port since 2017, is not seaworthy and unable to sail under its own power.

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07 may 2025   |   18:45   |   Source: PAP / Gazeta Morska   |   Prepared by: Kamil Kusier   |   Print

fot. Tadeusz Urbaniak / gdynia.pl

On May 8, 2025, at approximately 17:00, the tanker Khatanga is scheduled to be repositioned within the Port of Gdynia, according to a statement from Kalina Gierblińska, spokesperson for the Port of Gdynia Authority (ZMPG). The operation aims to turn the vessel bow-first toward the port’s exit to facilitate a faster and safer future tow-out operation, pending documentation from Danish authorities.

The maneuver also aims to improve mooring safety while the vessel remains idle. The relocation will be carried out by FairPlay Towage using three to four tugs. A crane will also be deployed to assist with mooring tasks and the installation of temporary equipment, including navigation lights and a pilot ladder. The entire operation is being coordinated with the Maritime Office in Gdynia and will follow the highest safety standards, Gierblińska emphasized.

The Khatanga is over 150 meters long, 26 meters wide, and displaces more than 15,000 tonnes. Designed for transporting crude oil and petroleum products, the vessel has been berthed in the Port of Gdynia since 2017, after failing a technical inspection. Though initially scheduled for repairs and departure, the vessel remained docked.

In 2020, the ship’s owner, Murmansk Shipping Company, was declared bankrupt, leaving the Khatanga abandoned. Its technical condition has since deteriorated significantly.

In early February this year, Poland’s Ministry of Infrastructure announced that the Maritime Office in Gdynia had ordered the vessel’s removal from the port due to safety concerns. The ship, which is without crew or power, has been deemed unseaworthy and a potential hazard to port infrastructure.

Magdalena Kierzkowska, spokesperson for the Maritime Office in Gdynia, confirmed that the vessel had become a derelict with unclear ownership and required removal as a matter of port safety. The tanker remains under constant monitoring by port authorities and harbor services.

Earlier this year, ZMPG indicated plans to sell the vessel to recover at least part of the estimated PLN 13 million in unpaid mooring fees. The Ministry stated that the Port of Gdynia will seek full reimbursement from the Russian shipowner. Media reports also noted that the Khatanga has twice broken free from its moorings, posing risks to nearby vessels.

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