Russia's first regionally constructed ice-class liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker is set to begin operations in the latter half of 2024 as part of the Arctic LNG 2 project. This update was provided by Sovcomflot, a Russian tanker company, and reported by the Interfax news agency.
The vessel, named Alexey Kosygin after the former Soviet statesman, has been built at the Zvezda shipyard. It will join the fleet dedicated to supporting LNG transportation from the Arctic LNG 2 plant, located in the far north of Russia.
Currently, the Arctic LNG 2 project is facing export difficulties due to a shortage of ice-class tankers. International sanctions, imposed in response to the conflict in Ukraine, have hindered Russia's access to foreign-built vessels capable of navigating through thick Arctic ice. This shortage has delayed shipments from the plant, even though the first phase of Arctic LNG 2 commenced operations in late 2023.
The Alexey Kosygin has already undergone preliminary sea trials that started at the end of last year. According to Igor Tonkovidov, CEO of Sovcomflot, the main phase of testing is scheduled to kick off at the end of this month. He mentioned that if all performance benchmarks are met, there’s a strong chance the vessel could be put into operation later this year.
Despite being placed under U.S. sanctions, the tanker remains vital for ensuring Russia's LNG export capabilities in Arctic waters. It is engineered to traverse ice that is up to two meters (about 6.5 feet) thick, making it suitable for year-round operations under extreme conditions.
Arctic LNG 2 is managed by Novatek, a Russian energy company that holds a 60% stake in the project. Novatek has plans to deploy a total of 21 Arc7 ice-class tankers for LNG transportation from its Arctic operations, with 15 of these vessels, including the Alexey Kosygin, being built at the Zvezda shipyard.
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