A ceremony to award a name to a huge gas-carrying tanker has been held at the Japanese port of Chiba on the shore of Tokyo Bay on Tuesday, Itar-Tass reports.
The Grand Mereya tanker has been built to ship Sakhalin-produced gas. The ocean-going vessel, which is capable of carrying more than 145,000 cubic metres of liquefied natural gas (LNG) per run, has been made at the shipyards of the Mitsui Engineering and Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.
The giant tanker has been named after Sakhalin's Mereya River that flows in the area of Prigorodnoye Township, where the construction of Russia's first LNG production plant is nearing completion.
The press service of the Primorye shipping company (PSC) has announced that the gas carrier has been built for the Russo-Japanese consortium consisting of the Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd (MOL), Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd (K Line) and the PSC.
The tanker has been chartered by the Sakhalin Energy Company, the operator of the Sakhalin-2 major oil and gas project. The new hi-tech vessel with ice-breaking reinforcements of the hull has been designed specially for operation in the conditions of ice-bound seas and freezing temperatures. The ruggedized structure will enable the ship to transport LNG from the plant located in Sakhalin's south the year round.
Ion Craig, Sakhalin Energy Company's chief executive director, said at the name-awarding ceremony at Chiba that the Grand Mereya is already a third new LNG-carrying tanker built for the Sakhalin-2 project. The Russo-Japanese consortium will be operating it, just as the two previously-built ones.
Mr. Craig said this contributes considerably to the gaining of experience being accumulated in Russia in the transportation of LNG, which is the major energy resource to ensure the energy security of the Asia-Pacific Region. A highly qualified crew consisting of Russian and Japanese specialists will attend to the newly-built ship.
Alexander Kirilichev, Chairman of the PSC Board of Directors, said at the ceremony, "For several years now, we have been training seamen for the transportation of LNG. Our specialists underwent advanced training aboard the ships of partner companies. Our wide experience in operation in rigorous climatic conditions is also in demand. For example, specialists of the MOL company completed an ice navigation course with the use of our training facilities".