LNG Carrier Pskov Named

LNG carrier Pskov ordered by Sovcomflot OJSC for Gazprom Global LNG has been named at STX Offshore & Shipbuilding (S. Korea), according to Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS).

The Pskov is the second in the series of four membrane-type gas carriers of 170,000 cubic meters being built by STX Offshore & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd under technical supervision of RS.

The Pskov is scheduled for delivery on August 29, 2014. On her maiden voyage the LNG carrier will sail from Nakhodka to Incheon (Republic of Korea).

The head vessel of the batch Velikiy Novgorod was launched on January 15, 2013.

The LNG carriers Velikiy Novgorod and Pskov are an integral part of the cooperation between Gazprom and Sovcomflot, aimed at development of new ‘Gaz Ice’ type LNGCs for harsh environment conditions, with improved technical characteristics to meet Gazprom’s requirements.

The Gaz Ice project is the result of joint cooperation between specialists from GGLNG, Sovcomflot, the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping and Russian shipbuilders. Special provisions have been made for progressive localisation of construction work for the LNGC’s at Russian shipyards.

Commenting on the announcement Evgeniy Ambrosov, Chief Operating Officer of OAO Sovcomflot, said:

“The growth of SCF Group’s LNG tanker fleet, with the addition of the modern, high ice class vessel Pskov, is a logical development of SCF Group’s Strategy, which envisages significant growth of the group’s gas transportation business, in line with the new industrial energy projects in harsh environments.”

”We are very grateful to our partners at Gazprom for the trust they have placed in us and in return are pleased to be able to offer them our first-class LNG transportation services, guaranteeing reliable, efficient and environmentally safe shipping.”

Nikolai Kolesnikov, Chief Financial Officer of Sovcomflot, noted:

“The financing of the construction of LNGCs Velikiy Novgorod and Pskov was supported by a consortium of leading international banks from Europe and Asia – ING Bank N.V. (Netherlands), KfW IPEX-Bank GmbH (Germany) and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (Japan). In 2013, the financing transaction was recognized by “Marine Money” shipping magazine as “The Deal of the Year” in the project finance category.

Recently, the transaction has also been nominated for the “Deal of the Year” award by Lloyd’s List reflecting its robust structure and the credit quality of the deal and its participants.”

• RS class notation: RS/Lloyd Register dual class, KM Ice2 AUT1 OMBO EPP ANTI-ICE LI CCO ECO-S WINTERIZATION(-30) Gas carrier type 2G (methane)

[mappress]
Press Release, August 26, 2014; Image: RS