Yamal LNG Arc7 ice-class tankers continues the efforts to develop large-capacity cargo shipping in the Arctic

Moscow, January 19, Neftegaz.RU. NOVATEK announced today that the Arc7 ice-class Arctic LNG tanker Christophe de Margerie chartered by the Yamal LNG project successfully completed an independent passage along the Eastbound part of the Northern Sea Route (NSR) on the 16th January, having reached the Bering Strait in 11 days with an average safe speed of 9.6 knots.

The Christophe de Margerie was subsequently followed by a similar LNG tanker Nikolay Yevgenov, which is currently completing its independent passage along the NSR. Both LNG tankers will deliver approximately 140 thousand tons of LNG produced at Yamal LNG to destinations in the Asia-Pacific Region. The total time of cargo delivery by this route is 40% shorter than the traditional route through the Suez Canal.

Simultaneously, another Arc7 ice-class LNG tanker Nikolay Zubov, traveling in the opposite direction to the port of Sabetta after offloading its LNG cargo, entered the Westbound ice route along the NSR on the 6th January and subsequently reached the Ob Bay on the 17th January.

Leonid Mikhelson, NOVATEK’s CEO noted:

• These independent tanker voyages... are the result of the targeted work of the company and partners to expand the navigational season for LNG shipments from our Arctic projects along the Eastern route of the NSR.
• Expanding the navigational period along the NSR by almost half the distance and time of LNG transport to the ports of the Asia-Pacific region compared to the traditional route through the Suez Canal allows us to reduce our carbon footprint and decrease carbon emissions by 7 000 tons per round trip
• Russian Government is taking all the necessary measures to create a safe and competitive transport infrastructure in the Russian Arctic, ensuring year-round navigation along the NSR
• Our new fleet of ice-class LNG carriers, which will be built at the Zvezda Shipyard in Russia, are designed with better icebreaking characteristics

All 3 of the Arc7 ice-class LNG tankers independently passed the ice-covered part of the NSR, without ice-breaker support, along the navigational routes recommended by the State Research Center "Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute" and Atomflot’s Marine Operations Headquarters.

The aforementioned voyages took place in average ice conditions, 2 months after the end of the traditional navigation season in the Eastern part of the Arctic, which usually ends in November.

In 2020, Christophe de Margerie became the 1st large-capacity cargo vessel to complete an eastbound transit of the Northern Sea Route in May, 2 months earlier than when navigation traditionally commences.