Tag Archives: Arctic

Construction of gas carriers for the Arctic LNG 2 project shifted to 2024

April 26 2023

The terms for the construction of gas carriers commissioned by Sovcomflot for the Arctic LNG 2 project have been shifted by 1 year, deliveries will begin in 2024. This was announced by the company’s CEO Igor Tonkovidov, RIA Novosti reports.

Initially, the construction of the lead tanker was expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2023, but in September 2022, the head of NOVATEK, Leonid Mikhelson, announced that this would happen at the end of 2023, when the first line of the Arctic LNG 2 plant would be launched. It was assumed that 6-7 tankers would be received by the end of 2024.

Currently, the Zvezda shipbuilding complex in Primorsky Krai is building 15 new generation gas carriers for the Arctic LNG 2 project. The lead vessel will be delivered to Sovcomflot and SMART LNG LLC, a joint venture between Sovcomflot and NOVATEK will receive the remaining 14 vessels.

Contracts for the construction of 15 Arctic LNG carriers of the Arc7 ice class, designed to transport cargo from the Arctic LNG 2 plant, were signed in December 2019-July 2020. The shipyard started cutting metal for the lead vessel of the series in November 2020.

The vessels of the new series are designed for year-round transportation of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the waters of the Northern Sea Route (NSR), including its eastern sector. The tankers will have higher ice-breaking capacity and maneuverability compared to the first generation of Arctic LNG carriers. The length of the gas carriers of the new series will be 300 m, width – 48.8 m, cargo capacity – 172.6 thousand cubic meters. m. The propulsion system includes three rudder propellers with a total capacity of 45 MW.

Arctic LNG 2 (Yamal) is NOVATEK’s flagship project, consisting of three production lines. It provides for the construction of three technological lines for the production of LNG with a total capacity of 19.8 million tons per year and stable gas condensate up to 1.6 million tons per year. The project is being implemented in an innovative construction concept using gravity foundations (GBS). Previously, the implementation of the project faced significant delays. According to the company, the first production line will open no earlier than the end of 2023, that is, a year behind schedule.

Sovcomflot Group is the largest shipping company in Russia, a leader in the maritime transportation of oil, petroleum products and liquefied gas, as well as servicing offshore hydrocarbon production. The company specializes in operations in difficult climatic and ice conditions. The share of Sovcomflot in energy exports from Russian ports in 2022 was 14%.

Source: https://portnews.ru/news/346582/

Operation of icebreakers was discussed at the opening of the Russian-Chinese laboratory of polar technologies

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September 27 2022

China intends to improve the level of technology for operations in ice conditions

St. Petersburg State Maritime Technical University (SPbGMTU) and Harbin Engineering University (HEU) solemnly held an online opening ceremony of the Russian-Chinese laboratory of polar technologies and equipment and the first meeting of the laboratory’s academic council. The Academic Council consists of leading experts from SPbGMTU, HEU and specialized organizations in Russia and China, the press service of the Russian university reports.

An agreement to establish a joint laboratory under the Belt and Road Initiative was signed between the universities in 2019. The project was supported by the governments of Russia and China and included in the action plan within the framework of the years of Russian-Chinese scientific, technical and innovation cooperation.

The co-heads of the laboratory, Vice-President of HEU Han Duanfeng and Director of the International Cooperation Department of SPbGMTU Professor Kirill Rozhdestvensky spoke about the results and promising areas of cooperation. Members of the academic council took part in the discussion. For example, Wu Gang, an employee of Research Institute No. 708 Maric, one of the designers of the Chinese Snow Dragon icebreaker, said that he was designing equipment and machinery for the Arctic. “My supervisor studied at LSI (Leningrad Shipbuilding Institute). We have a good understanding of Russian-made icebreakers. We want to improve the level of our technology, we need new methods and concepts for the operation of ice ships,” Wu Gang said.

Professor of the Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU) Alexander Bekker emphasized that the work of the laboratory will enhance the opportunities of universities in the study of the Arctic. Kirill Sazonov, head of the laboratory of the Krylov State Research Center (KSRC), singled out for research the problem of the movement of large-capacity vessels in ice conditions, the need to calculate the characteristics of ice formations and study the properties of ice.

Professor Vladimir Tryaskin spoke about the important task of designing icebreaker structures according to new requirements for ice loads, and creating special software. Professor Vadim Goncharov spoke about research in the field of Arctic ecology and about the importance of involving students in work.

Source: https://portnews.ru/news/336143/

Icebreaker ‘Viktor Chernomyrdin’ Will Become a Passenger Icebreaker

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February 5 2022

The world’s largest and most powerful conventional icebreaker ‘Viktor Chernomyrdin’ will be used as a passenger ship for Arctic cruises after retrofitting. Up to 93 passengers will be able to simultaneously travel on the icebreaker during the period free from its primary activities, TASS was told on Saturday by the press service of the Federal State Unitary Enterprise “Rosmorport”.

“After the additional equipment has been installed, the Registry class symbol of the ‘Viktor Chernomyrdin’ icebreaker will indicate the characteristic “Passenger ship” and the vessel will be able to accommodate up to 93 passengers onboard. The plans are to use the icebreaker to conduct Arctic cruises and transport passengers during a period free from statutory activities”, explained the “Rosmorport” press service.

Work on installing the additional equipment onboard the ‘Viktor Chernomyrdin’, as follows from the data of the public procurement portal, should be completed no later than April 1, 2022. The value of the contract, concluded following the results of the auction, amounted to 4.2 million rubles.

The contractor will have to install additional lighting on the icebreaker, re-equip the ship’s security systems, and perform a number of other improvements. Upon their completion, “Viktor Chernomyrdin” will be able to officially receive the class of a passenger ship.

The project 22600 icebreaker has been under construction by order of “Rosmorport” since December 2012 at the “Admiralty Shipyard” (St. Petersburg). This is the innovative new generation diesel-electric icebreaker with impressive 25 MW power plant (on propellers), high ice class ‘Icebreaker – 8’ and a maximum degree of automation. The icebreaker is capable of reaching speeds of up to 17.8 knots in clear water, passing through ice up to 2 meters thick at a continuous speed of 2 knots. The vessel can operate in various regions of the Arctic and Antarctic, she can penetrate ice up to 3 m thick.

The ceremony of raising the state flag of the Russian Federation on the icebreaker took place in November 2020. In January 2021, the vessel commenced her first voyage – icebreaking escort of ships in the Gulf of Finland (Baltic Sea). ‘Viktor Chernomyrdin’ operated on the approaches to the seaports of Vyborg, Vysotsk and Primorsk escorting ships, including large-capacity tankers, on their way to the ports.

Source: https://portnews.ru/digest/22982/