LNG Carrier ‘Grand Elena’ Holed After Bumping Dock in Russia

Photo: SCF Group

An LNG carrier laden with 145 cubic meters of gas struck a dock at the Sakhalin Energy project on the far eastern end of Russia on Tuesday, causing damage but no gas leaks or injuries.

The departure of the tanker, Grand Elena, has been delayed.

A spokesperson for the project said the vessel struck a loading dock at the terminal after loading LNG bound for Japan. Media reports said the vessel suffered a hole on its port side. Divers were expected to survey the damage Wednesday morning.

The Sakhalin Energy project produces oil and natural gas from the Piltun-Astokhskoye oil field and the Lunskoye gas field off the north-eastern coast of Sakhalin island. The project exports approximately 10 million tons of natural gas per year to Japan, South Korea, China and Taiwan via the port of Prigorodnoye.

As of Wednesday, it was not immediately clear when the Grand Elena would be cleared for departure.

The 147,000 cbm capacity Grand Elena was delivered by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in 2007. The vessel is operated by Russia’s SCF Group.

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