LNG-bunkering vessel «Dmitry Mendeleev» of Gazprom Neft passes sea trials

St.Petersburg, June 2 - Neftegaz.RU. Gazprom Neft’s project to build Russia’s 1^st LNG-bunkering vessel has moved into its final stage, with the Dmitry Mendeleev successfully passing sea trials following completion of major installation works.

A series of tests on the main propulsion system allowed the functionality and serviceability of the vessel’s navigation equipment and control systems to be fully tested, and its manoeuvring and speed capabilities confirmed.

Alexey Medvedev, Director General of Gazpromneft Marine Bunker, said:

• Open-water sea trials have confirmed the vessel’s high capabilities in terms of manoeuvrability - meaning bunkering can take place in virtually all climatic zones
• The necessary gas tests will be taking place in the near future, and will involve specialists testing the vessel’s gas equipment
• The Dmitry Mendeleev bunkering vessel is expected to be commissioned in the latter half of 2021

Next steps will involve testing the vessel’s LNG loading, storage and unloading capabilities.
The new vessel will form part of the Gazprom Neft fleet in the 2^nd half of 2021, and will be used for fuel bunkering at ports in the Gulf of Finland and the Baltic Sea - St Petersburg, Ust Luga and Primorsk.

The latest shipbuilding and LNG transportation technologies are being utilised on the Dmitry Mendeleev project, in line with the most recent environmental standards governing maritime transport.

The vessel will be using tank-return gas (TRG or boil-off gas) from transported cargo as fuel for its onboard power plant. All LNG-bunkering equipment is fully compliant with MARPOL and ECOS environmental standards.

It has a fully-compliant Arc4 ice-class reinforced hull, allowing independent navigation of one-year-old ice of up to 80 cm thick.
Thanks to its integrated digital system the vessel can be managed by just 1 person from the navigation bridge.