About 200 oil tankers and LNG carriers from various ports around the world arrive at Prigorodnoye port every year. Drawing on international experience, we can expect that ballast water, used to support vessel stability, collected at those ports may contain dangerous invasive species which, when discharged into the waters of Prigorodnoye Port, could, over time, disturb the sensitive ecosystem of Aniva Bay.

LNG tanker at the LNG jetty, Aniva Bay

To preserve the ecosystem of this water area, Sakhalin Energy LLC carries out a wide range of measures, including environmental monitoring of the flora and fauna for possible impacts of ballast waters.

The purpose of this monitoring is to minimise the risk of introducing dangerous invasive organisms during ballast water discharges at Prigorodnoye port.

The monitoring programme consists of two interrelated components. Firstly, between April and November, when the risks of introduction and adaptation of unwanted invasive species are at their highest, phyto- and zooplankton samples are taken from each vessel, where technically feasible, for comprehensive analyses, including for potentially harmful non-native species. The results of years of ballast water sample analyses confirm proper compliance with Sakhalin Energy's internal regulations and the requirements of the Ballast Water Management Convention.

Secondly, from April to November, Sakhalin Energy conducts environmental monitoring of biota in the Prigorodnoye port water area. Monitoring has been done since 2007 on a grid of stations that covers the locations of berthing facilities for LNG carriers and oil tankers. The findings of observations of plankton and benthos communities in the Prigorodnoye port water area have shown the control measures to be highly effective.

Sakhalin Energy LLC intends to continue paying special attention to the protection of the Aniva Bay ecosystem.

Ballast Water Monitoring Programme