The lead ship is a series of Arc7 class LNG carriers Christophe de Margerie that will be transporting LNG for the Yamal LNG project has entered the waters of the Kara Sea and started its maiden voyage with an LNG cargo on board along the Northern Sea Route (NSR), NOVATEK said in a press release.
The LNG carrier handed over under sub-charter contract will sail along the shipping lane without assistance of icebreakers and deliver LNG from Norway to South Korea for 15 days.
The route from Europe to East and South-East Asia on the NRS reduces the transit time twice as much compared to the traditional route. Commencement of LNG deliveries by ARC7 class tankers through the NSR will contribute to the growth of cargo transportation and development of navigation in the waters of the Arctic Ocean.
The shipping routes for large vessels on the NSR have been mapped and that will ensure the safety and effectiveness of their operation.
The Christophe de Margerie built at Daewoo Shipbuilding Marine Engineering (DSME) is the first of 15 sister ships, built for Yamal LNG project. In the 2016-2017 winter navigation season the tanker successfully passed ice trials. The ship is able to operate year-round without assiatance of icebreakers on the NSR westward and during summer navigation season eastward.
PAO Sovcomflot (SCF Group) is one of the world's leading shipping companies, specializing in the transportation of crude oil, petroleum products, and liquefied gas, as well as servicing offshore upstream oil and gas installations and equipment. The Group’s fleet comprises 147 vessels with a total deadweight of over 13,1 million tonnes. The company is registered in St. Petersburg with offices in Moscow, Novorossiysk, Murmansk, Vladivostok, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, London, Limassol, and Dubai.