The first of a series of ice-class LNG carriers set to transport cargo from the Yamal LNG project in northwest Siberia to Europe and Asia has been launched by Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) in South Korea.
The vessel is the first of 15 specially-designed 170,000m3 Azipod powered LNG carriers built to icebreaking capability of ARC 7, making them most powerful icebreaking LNG carriers in the world. The ships will be used to ship LNG from Sabetta port located on the Yamal peninsula to Europe and Asia via the Northern Sea Route.
The first vessel is expected to be delivered late 2016.
The Yamal LNG project is expected to start in 2017 and is headed by Russian gas producer Novatek with partners CNPC and Total. Annual LNG production capacity is estimated at 16.5 million metric tons.
The LNG carriers are powered by ABB, providing the turbochargers, generators, switchboards, transformers, electric drives, propulsion control and the Azipod® propulsion units that will power the vessels through the arctic conditions.
