World News
LNG Carrier Completes Maiden NSR Voyage
Ob River, the first LNG carrier to use the Northern Sea Route (NSR), has completed its voyage on time, achieving fuel savings of 40 percent, Russia's Gazprom Group who chartered the ship has said.
Ob River left the Port of Hammerfest in Norway on November 7, 2012 and arrived at the Port of Tobata in Japan on December 5, delivering its LNG cargo to Japanese customers.
The ship was accompanied by nuclear icebreakers between November 9 and November 18, while it was moving through the NSR, and for part of that time it traveled through ice as much as 30 centimeters thick.
The shorter journey times achieved using the NSR compared to going through the Suez Canal, which can cut the Murmansk, Russia to China journey from 43 days to 23 days, is increasingly drawing ship operators because of the significant fuel savings that can be made, especially at a time when bunker prices are high.
The number of vessels going through the route has gone from four in 2010 to 46 this year.
Dynagas Ltd. of Greece, which owns the Ob River, has said ice conditions on the NSR are becoming "more and more favorable."
Key Bunker Prices More
| VLSFO | MGO | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $/mt | +/- | $/mt | +/- | |
| Singapore | 502.00 | 7.00 | 617.00 | 6.00 |
| Rotterdam | 455.00 | 8.00 | 619.50 | 4.00 |
| Houston | 467.00 | 4.50 | 625.00 | 2.50 |
| Fujairah | 495.00 | 6.00 | 712.50 | 1.50 |
| Global 20 Ports Average | 524.50 | 4.50 | 710.50 | 4.00 |
| Global 4 Ports Average | 479.50 | 6.50 | 643.50 | 3.50 |
| Global Average Bunker Price | 570.50 | 2.00 | 747.50 | 5.50 |
Popular Now More
-
Apr 28Failing to keep track of energy density variations could be costing shipping companies as much as $25/mt in fuel bills, Shipergy CEO Daniel Rose tells Ship & Bunker. -
Apr 29The ships are accused of delivering cargo to ports under the control of Yemen's Houthi movement. -
Apr 28The product is being produced at the company's 100,000 b/d Fujairah refinery, and the firm's ship the Elandra Falcon was the first to take on the new fuel at Fujairah.