EMEA News
Approval in Principal for Gazprom LNG Carrier Design
Russian gas company Gazprom Group has received an Approval in Principle of technical documentation for a new type of liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker capable of traversing the Northern Sea Route (NSR) from the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS).
The documentation for the project, known as Gaz-Ice, includes two designs, with a dual fuel diesel-electric engine and with two-strong low-speed engines and a gas injection system that helps reduce fuel consumption.
The ship design, which will form the basis of Gazprom Group's future LNG carrier fleet, includes membrane type cargo tankes with a capacity of about 170,000 m3.
"The design meets the highest environmental requirements (ECO-S notation), provides for a set of measures and equipment for operation at low temperature (Winterization (-30) notation) and Arc4 ice class which allows to use the ship for transportation of liquefied gas along the Northern Sea Route," said Pavel Shikhov, RS chief operating officer and head of Classification and Development Directorate.
Gazprom is preparing to begin constructing the ships in Russia in 2018, according to Nikolai Grigoriev, director of global shipping and logistics for Gazprom Marketing & Trading.
"The demand of Gazprom Group and other Russian companies for a cost-effective and environmentally friendly tanker fleet for trading and export operations requires a comprehensive approach based on a combination of innovation, best achievements of the international shipbuilding science and practice and an increase in the 'Russian content' in the construction of these ships," he said.
Last year, an LNG tanker, the Ob River, chartered by Gazprom became the first ship of its kind to sail across the NSR, reducing its fuel costs by 40 percent.
