LNG-fuelled tanker completes voyage along Northern Sea Route

The vessel was delivering petroleum products from the Republic of Korea to Northern Europe. The voyage from Cape Dezhnev at Chukotka to Cape Zhelaniya of the Novaya Zemlya archipelago took the Arc4 vessel 7.8 days to complete. Over the course of the voyage, the vessel covered 2194 nautical miles, and the crew successfully tested the operation of the engines and controls of the fuels systems using LNG. They also successfully tested the operation of navigation equipment and machinery in ice conditions and sub-zero temperatures.

Sovcomflot claims that voyage has confirmed the manoeuvrability and icebreaking capabilities of the vessel. The company claims that the voyage has also demonstrated that the vessel is highly safe, environmentally friendly and efficient.

Lomonosov Prospect is the second in a series of six Aframax tankers designed to operate on LNG as the primary fuel. It was delivered to Sovcomflot in October 2018, and has a length of 250 m, a breadth of 44 m, a deadweight of 114 00 t, and is assigned an ice class Arc4.

In September this year, the company also placed orders with Zvezda Shipbuilding Complex for a series of two similar LNG-fuelled Aframax tankers, which will then each be time-chartered to Rosneft for 20 years.

In addition to this, Sovcomflot claims that it will provide technical supervision during the construction of the five similar LNG-fuelled Aframax tankers for Rosneft, which were also ordered at Zvezda Shipbuilding Complex. Once these vessels are delivered, Sovcomflot claims that it will provide the shipowner with a range of services in order to ensure that the vessels are effectively and safely managed. This will include the recruitment and management of highly skilled crews.

Read the article online at: https://www.lngindustry.com/liquid-natural-gas/01112018/lng-fuelled-tanker-completes-voyage-along-northern-sea-route/