Tag: Yamal LNG

Christophe de Margerie, the icebreaking LNG carrier owned and operated by Russian Sovcomflot (SCF Group), has crossed the Northern Sea Route in a new record time for a merchant ship without icebreaker support, during the month of July, the company announced. 

Russian natural gas producers Novatek informed that it shipped its first cargo of LNG from the Yamal LNG project to China via the Northern Sea Route on July 19. An official ceremony was held to commemorate the arrival of the LNG tankers 'Vladimir Rusanov' and 'Eduard Toll' to the Chinese port of Jiangsu Rudong.

Russian Sovcomflot and Novatek signed an agreement on transport support for the Yamal LNG, Arctic LNG-2 projects and other Arctic projects of Novatek. The agreement regards the transportation of hydrocarbons such as LNG and gas condensate from Yamal LNG and Arctic LNG-2 project.

A Russian Arctic LNG shipment started its voyage through the Northern Sea Route to Asia. The 'Vladimir Rusanov' LNG tanker marked Yamal LNG plant’s first shipment through the NSR. The NSR is crucial for Yamal LNG, and it generally opens from June until November. However, extreme conditions this year have postponed the deliveries.

The Boris Vilkitski LNG tanker left the Yamal plant on Friday for Montoir terminal in France,  after spending more than a week without operating. In addition, Christophe de Margerie appears to have loaded, and is now leaving the area. Moreover, the LNG tankers Vladimir Rusanov and Eduard Toll are waiting offshore the Yamal LNG plant. 

French oil and gas major Total inked an agreement with Russian LNG producer Novatek to acquire a direct working interest of 10% in Arctic LNG 2, the giant LNG project lead by Novatek on the Gydan Peninsula in the north of Siberia. The deal was signed in the presence of the Russian and French Presidents.

PAO Novatek announced that it will create a transportation subsidiary called "Maritime Arctic Transport LLC." The new company will manage and optimize transportation costs, build up the competencies of Arctic navigation and ensure the centralized management of the Arctic fleet.

On Tuesday 1 May, LNG from Sabetta on the Siberian peninsula Yamal was transhipped simultaneously in Zeebrugge for the first time. Namely, LNG was transhiped from the ice class vessel "Eduard Toll" into the conventional LNG carrier "Pskov" for further transport to Asia.  In 2015 the terminal of Fluxys was selected as transhipment hub for LNG from the Yamal gasfield.

The 2017-built ice class tanker 'Boris Vilkitsky', which is deployed to transport gas from Russian Yamal LNG project, entered the Northern Sea Route with inoperative stern thrusters and port steering column, violating several safety rules, according to NSR Administration.

Currently, there is a great boost of shipping activity in the western part of the Northern Sea Route, with ships bringing in materials and equipment for the Yamal LNG plant and the construction of Sabetta port. Many operators eye the passage through NSR, identifying it as a potential international transit route, therefore, a significant expansion of cargo volume is expected over the coming years.