Scorpio shoots through - Pretty sure we're shouldn't be encouraging ships to "shoot through" ice infested waters...

A Scorpio Ship Management tanker has turned up the heat on the Northern Sea Route.

The STI Heritage passed through the NSR in double-quick time.
Its 73,956-dwt STI Heritage (built 2008) has raced through the passage in just eight days to set a new benchmark for international vessels.

The ice-breaker assisted marker smashes the 15 days taken for the 73,788-dwt Perseverance (built 2005) to pass through earlier this year, a spokesperson tells TradeWinds.

Scorpio’s benchmark comes at a time when the NSR is gaining popularity due to favourable sailing conditions.

“While transits are weather dependant, climate models have predicted the icy sea route will be navigable by commercial vessels for an additional two to four months this year,” Scorpio said in a statement.

Just last week Russian owner Sovcomflot pushed its the first suezmax tanker through the NSR.

It completed the transit in 7.4 days.

By Andy Pierce in London, Tradewinds