Gallery: Teekay’s 1st LNG Icebreaker Transits Northern Sea Route

Teekay has taken delivery of Eduard Toll, the first of the company’s six LNG carrier newbuilds contracted to serve the Yamal LNG project.

Recently, the 172,652 cbm vessel underwent the latest seasonal independent passage by a merchant ship on the Northern Sea Route.

Built at Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) shipyard, the vessel was technically accepted in Korea at the beginning of December 2017 after completing sea trials. Following this, Eduard Toll started its journey to Northern Russia.

Over the past month, the LNG carrier has transited the Northern Sea Route, breaking ice 1.8 meters thick at speeds of five knots astern, and arrived at the Sabetta terminal ahead of schedule.

As explained by Teekay, the transit marked a major milestone for shipping in the Arctic as this was the first time a shipping vessel made an independent passage, without the support of an icebreaker, during this time of year.

“With the inaugural passage now successfully behind us, we look forward to loading for someplace sunnier as soon as Yamal LNG’s busy quay becomes available, and to doing it all over again for decades to come on the Eduard Toll and our five other five newbuilds comprising the Arc7 fleet that we own with our joint venture partner, China LNG,” Mark Kremin, President and Chief Executive Officer, Teekay Gas Group, commented.

The 298-meter-long Eduard Toll is also the fourth of fifteen Arc7 LNG carriers being built for the Yamal LNG project.

The project, expected to produce 16.5 million metric tons of LNG annually, is sponsored by Novatek OAO, Total SA, China National Petroleum Corporation and Silk Road Fund.

Under the abovementioned project, a series of fifteen vessels are being built, each capable of transporting 172,000 cubic meters and operating year-round in second-year ice up to 2.5 meters thick.

Image Courtesy: Teekay