More Russian oil along coast of Norway
Transport of oil from Russia to the U.S. and Europe along the coast of Norway increased in 2010 and Norway enhances its emergency preparedness.
In course of the first eleven months of 2010, 303 tankers loaded with oil passed along the coast of Norway, Norwegian newspaper Aftenbladet reports, citing the Norwegian Armed Forces. The number for December was probably about 20-30 ships. In 2009 the total number was 296.
The amount of oil products transported along the Norwegian coast was 17.4 million tons by the end of November, compared to 16.5 million tons in twelve months of 2009. In average, every tanker is loaded with 50 000 tons of oil products. The most common cargo is raw oil.
Read also: 15 million tons of Russian oil through Barents Sea
Because of the increased oil traffic and the subsequent risk of accidents, the Norwegian Coastal Administration has concluded more contracts on hire of tugboats to be in state of preparedness along the coast. From before there were three the tugs stationed in Northern Norway, and now there is also one tug in Western Norway and one in the southern parts of the country.
In addition to the oil traffic from Russia, large bulk vessels with iron ore from Narvik, oil tankers from the Norwegian Norne field and the refinery at Mongstad frequently sail along the coast of Norway.
