The Zvezda Shipbuilding Complex (created by the Consortium headed by Rosneft on behalf of the Russian President) has begun construction of the second ice-class LNG carrier LNG ARC 7. The production of ships of this type at Russian shipyards is one of the priority areas of the shipyard’s production program “Zvezda”, Rosneft said in a statement. The first part of the future ship was cut in the hull production unit on a high-tech plasma cutting machine.
LNG carriers of ice class ARC 7 are designed to transport liquefied natural gas and are capable of operating in harsh climatic conditions. The length of the vessel is 300 meters, width is 48.8 meters, the capacity of cargo tanks is 172.6 thousand cubic meters. Vessels of this type are distinguished by increased environmental safety – they use liquefied natural gas as the main fuel.
The design of the gas carrier allows it to independently overcome ice more than 2 meters thick. The power plant of the gas carrier is 45 megawatts. The vessel is equipped with three unique rudder propellers manufactured in Bolshoy Kamen at the “Zavod VRK” Sapphire “- a joint venture between Rosneft and GE.
Gas tankers are being built in the interests of NOVATEK for the Arctic LNG-2 project. VEB.RF finances the project for the construction of new vessels. Earlier, SSK Zvezda and the companies of the VEB.RF group signed contracts for the construction of 15 gas carriers intended for the transportation of liquefied gas in the difficult ice conditions of the Northern Sea Route.
The vessels will be operated under long-term time-charter agreements between Sovcomflot (for a pilot vessel) and SMART LNG (a subsidiary of Sovcomflot and NOVATEK, for the remaining 14 vessels in the series) with Arctic LNG 2 “(a subsidiary of NOVATEK).
In Russia, gas carriers are being built for the first time. For many years they have been ordered exclusively abroad. The construction of such gas carriers is one of the most technologically complex processes in the world shipbuilding. SSK “Zvezda” possesses equipment that is unique for Russian shipyards and world-class advanced technologies, which allow implementing such projects.