Zvezda shipyard and VEB.RF signed a deal for the construction of 15 Arctic LNG tankers.
The new Arc7 ice-class tankers are designed to ensure year-round navigation along the Northern Sea Route, including its Eastern part, and will have increased icebreaking and maneuvering characteristics as compared to the previous type of Arctic tankers currently used by the Yamal LNG project.
Zvezda is the 1st Russian shipyard to implement a project for the construction of such vessels.
The Arc 7 ice class LNG tankers are designed for the transportation of LNG and are capable of operating in harsh climatic conditions.
The tankers powered by a 45 MWt propulsion system and equipped with 3 rudder propellers will be capable of navigating in ice over 2 meters thick.
President Vladimir Putin said during the meeting with the Board of Trustees of the Russian Geographical Society:
- Russia is building the world’s most powerful icebreaker fleet, including giants such as the Leader, which no one has ever built before
- Navigation over the Northern Sea Route may become year-round in years to come
- Despite all the difficulties we face now at the international stage, the research in the Arctic and the attention to the Arctic remain unchanged
At the moment, the shipyard’s order portfolio amounts to over 50 vessels.
The Shipyard’s pilot throughput is provided for by Rosneft that placed an order for 28 vessels.
