Zvezda Shipbuilding Complex on Thursday said it has signed a construction contract with its Russian compatriot shipper Sovcomflot for a pilot LNG carrier for Novatek’s Arctic LNG 2 project.
The contract for the LNG carrier construction was preceded by large-scale works at the shipyard leading to its certification. The audit was completed by GTT, Novatek and shipowners confirming the shipyard’s readiness to build membrane-type liquefied natural gas containment systems.
The pilot gas carrier for Arctic LNG-2 will comply with the technical requirements for the Christophe de Margerie LNG carrier ordered by Sovcomflot for Novatek’s Yamal LNG project in 2013 in South Korea.
To remind Christophe de Margerie is an Arc7 ice class carrier able to navigate in ice fields of up to 2.1 meters thick as its bow and stern are covered with 70 millimeters of steel plates capable of withstanding temperatures of -52°C. It has the capacity to transport up to 172,600 cubic meters of LNG.
The shipbuilder said the delivery of the vessel is scheduled for the first quarter of 2023.