S. Korean shipyard holds steel-cutting for SCF’s LPG carrier (photo release)
South Korean Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Co. Ltd. (HMD) on September 24, 2012 held a steel-cutting ceremony for the first LPG carrier, ordered by Sovcomflot (SCF Group) and to be chartered to SIBUR petrochemical holding, the Group’s press release said. The first ship delivery is scheduled for 2013.
SCF Group and SIBUR in March 2012 signed a long-term time-charter agreement for two LPG carriers for regular year-round transportation of liquified petroleum gas (LPG). SIBUR will commence export shipments of LPG through its own terminal based at the port of Ust-Luga in 2013.
The LPG carrier capacity is 20,600 cbm. The vessel features modern ballast water treatment system, which installation becomes mandatory from the end of 2013 and reinforced hull for year-round operations in the North Atlantic for 25 years. The specifications significantly increase the vessel’s life in normal conditions. The LPG carrier has ice-class 1B (Ice3 class of the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping). This will ensure her operation in harsh environment of the Baltic Sea during the winter navigation.
The vessels will be built under the supervision of two classification societies - Lloyd's Register and the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping. Navigation hardware and software will by supplied by Russian manufacturers and developers.
St.Petersburg-headquartered Sovcomflot (SCF Group), the biggest shipping company in Russia, ranks the fifth top tanker company in the world. The Company specializes in global transportation of crude oil, petroleum products and other energy sources. The Group's fleet comprises 156 vessels of total deadweight of nearly 12 million tons, the average age of the tanker fleet is 6.6 years. The Group has offices in Moscow, Novorossiysk, Murmansk, Vladivostok, London, Limassol, Madrid and Singapore. SCF’s newbuildings program includes 15 vessels of total deadweight of about 1.73 million tons. Gas carriers fleet of Sovcomflot includes 8 vessels: six LNG and 2 LPG carriers. The Group will expand the fleet with six more gas carriers: four LNGC and two LPGC are now under construction. The Group’s vessels are chartered on long-term contracts to Sakhalin Energy, Shell, Gas Natural, Transammonia, Geogas and others.