Russia's First Ice-Class LNG Vessel Begins Sea Trials

Foreks - As part of Russia's efforts to increase its share in the global LNG market despite U.S. sanctions, the first Russian-built ice-class liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier has begun marine trials. The tanker named Alexey Kosygin was constructed at the Zvezda shipyard and will join the fleet for Russia's new Arctic LNG 2 facility, which was delayed due to U.S. sanctions amid the conflict in Ukraine. Ice-class tankers typically feature double hulls (structures reinforced to withstand ice pressure) and reinforced propellers. According to publicly available information, only three suitable gas carriers have been built so far for Arctic LNG 2: the Alexey Kosygin, Pyotr Stolypin, and Sergei Witte vessels. Hanwha Ocean, formerly known as Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, will construct six more Arc7 tankers, three for Sovcomflot and three for Japan's Mitsui O.S.K. Lines.