New Yamal LNG Carrier Named
A naming ceremony for an ice-breaking LNG carrier, which was jointly ordered by MOL and China COSCO Shipping Corporation was held at Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) last week.
The new vessel was named the Vladimir Vize by Irina Ershova of PAO Novatek, the major shareholder in the Yamal LNG project. The name Vladimir Vize was chosen in honor of the Russian Arctic explorer and oceanologist.
The Vladimir Vize is the sister vessel of the Vladimir Rusanov, which started transport service at the end of March 2018 under a long-term charter contract to transport LNG for the Yamal LNG Project. The Vladimir Vize is scheduled to go into service for the Yamal LNG project following her delivery at the end of September where she will sail without ice-breaker support in the Northern Sea Route towards the Yamal LNG plant at Sabetta port in Russia.
Construction of the last of the three newbuilding ice-breaking LNG vessels ordered by MOL is progressing as planned in DSME, and the vessel is expected to be delivered to the Yamal LNG Project next year. The three vessels have independent ice-breaking capabilities that enable them to sail in icy seas with maximum 2.1 meters (6.9 feet) ice thickness.
Construction of four conventional LNG Carriers destined for the Yamal LNG Project is also underway, with the vessels expected to be completed 2019-2020. The four 174,000 cubic meter capacity vessels will serve as a transport of LNG transshipped by the project from Europe.
The second train at the Yamal LNG plant started its operation in August 2018, and LNG production from the plant has been expanding steadily.
MOL highlights that the Arctic is a rich repository of natural resources, holding an estimated 13 percent of the world's undiscovered oil resources and 30 percent of its undiscovered natural gas resources, according to an assessment conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey. Investment in the next large LNG project near Russia's Yamal Peninsula is expected, giving further momentum to stable resource procurement from the Arctic Ocean via the shorter Northern Sea Route, a significant benefit for Japan's energy resource needs. Furthermore, it is anticipated that global demands for LNG as a clean energy will increase at an annual rate of five percent over the next 10 years. In particular, China, India and Southeast Asia are expected to see a large increase in LNG imports.
Vladimir Vize Specifications:
Length: 299.0 meters (981 feet)
Breadth: 50.00 meters (164 feet)
Draft: 12.00 meters (39 feet) in ice sea sailing
LNG tank: Membrane type
Cargo tank capacity: 172,000 cubic meters
Ice class/Specification: RMRS ARC7/Special specifications for Arctic environment
Ice-break sailing capabilities: Icebreaker bow structure; three-axis POD propeller aft structure
Max. ice breaking capacity: 2.1 meters (6.9 feet) when going astern
Ship management company: MOL LNG Transport (Europe) Ltd.
Owners: MOL 50 percent, China COSCO Shipping 50 percent