Construction and operation of dual-fuel ships results in increased financial expenses, USC President Aleksey Rakhmanov said when answering the question of IAA PortNews during media conference in Moscow.
“When opting for gas fuel it is economically reasonable not to use diesel fuel any more. Unfortunately, most of our customers turn to gas fuel appealed by it but then they ask to equip their ship with a tanker for high-sulfur fuel to have a duel-fuel ship. I can tell with all responsibility that duel-fuel engines make orders more expensive as well as ships operation”, said Aleksey Rkhmanov.
According to USC President, the issue rests on LNG bunkering infrastructure which should appear together with the construction of ships running on that fuel.
“In this respect, we have certain examples to learn from. Sovcomflot is already building Aframax ships powered by liquefied natural gas and we hope that within our Russia-Korea cooperation - with your obedient servant heading Russia-Korea Business Council from the part of the Russian Federation – the technologies for involving gas in shipbuilding will be used in the Russian Federation”, said Aleksey Rakhmanov.
United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC OJSC) is the largest shipbuilding company in Russia. It was set up in 2007 with 100% federal ownership. The holding comprises 40 companies and organizations (major shipbuilding and shiprepairing companies as well as leading design bureaus). Currently, USC consolidates the bulk of the domestic shipbuilding complex. The Russian market is the main focus of the state corporation though it also exports its products to 20 countries worldwide.
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