On 28 October 2014 the towing convoy carrying the upper superstructure of ice-resistant stationary platform No. 1 for fitting and development of the V. Filanovsky oil deposit successfully put out to the Caspian Sea.

The Astrakhan Branch pilots performed a professional pilotage of the convoy in cooperation with the Astrakhan and Olya Port VTS operators and the navigational-hydrographic division of the branch, which had performed survey works along the convoy route.

The weather conditions did not impede the routine mode of the convoy passage along the Volga-Caspian Seaway Canal. However, the lowering of the water level in the Caspian Sea, and consequently, in the Volga-Caspian maritime navigation canal, presented several difficulties, and made the Astrakhan Branch dredge extra 400 thous.m3 of soil in the limiting area at 125-152 km of the canal.