RS completes approval of LNG tanker technical documentation for Gazprom
Russian Maritime Register of Shipping has completed Approval in Principal of technical documentation for the LNG tanker that will form the basis of the LNG carrier fleet to meet the future needs of Gazprom Group, RS release reads.
The approved type of the ship (project name – “Gaz-Ice”) in some respects exceeds the characteristics of four state-of-the-art LNG carriers of “Velikiy Novgorod” series currently under construction in South Korea for Gazprom Marketing and Trading (GM&T) and Shell under the supervision of RS and Lloyd’s Register.
As required by GM&T, two alternative designs were developed and approved, with a dual fuel diesel-electric engine (DFDE) and with two-stroke low-speed engines equipped with a sophisticated gas injection system (ME-GI) which, according to calculations, allow to reduce fuel consumption more than twofold as compared with a “conventional” steam power plants.
Membrane type cargo tanks of “Gaz-Ice” with capacity of about 170,000 m3 will enable the transportation of different LNG cargo sizes and a significant boil off rate reduction owing to the use of new technologies that increase the strength and thermal insulating properties of the membrane.
“The design that has been approved by RS was developed by Korean shipbuilders together with the world’s leading shipowners and LNG carrier operators. It reflects the latest advances in gas carrier design and construction, in particular, it boasts a main propulsion plant and cargo system of outstanding efficiency. The design meets the highest environmental requirements (ECO-S notation), provides for a set of measures and equipment for operation at low temperature (Winterization (-30) notation) and Arc4 ice class which allows to use the ship for transportation of liquefied gas along the Northern Sea Route,” said Pavel Shikhov, RS Chief Operating Officer and Head of Classification and Development Directorate.
“The demand of Gazprom Group and other Russian companies for a cost-effective and environmentally friendly tanker fleet for trading and export operations require a comprehensive approach based on a combination of innovation, best achievements of the international shipbuilding science and, practice and an increase in the 'Russian content' in the construction of these ships. GM&T’s successful experience in the commercial operation of LNG carriers, the current construction of “Velikiy Novgorod” and “Pskov” gas carriers with our strategic partners ОАО “Sovcomflot” and RS, as well as the development of “Gaz-Ice” allowed us both to define the basis for the future gas-carrying fleet of the Group and to initiate the process of preparing for the construction of these ships in Russia by 2018,” said Mr. Nikolai Grigoriev, Director of Global Shipping and Logistics of Gazprom Marketing & Trading.
RS is a recognized leader in classification of ice ships. It has published Rules for the Classification and Construction of Gas Carriers since 1985. RS currently performs technical supervision during construction of four membrane-type gas carriers of 170,000 cubic meters at STX Offshore and Shipbuilding shipyard. This year RS will celebrate its 100-th anniversary.
Gazprom Marketing & Trading Limited (GM&T) is a UK-registered wholly-owned subsidiary of the Gazprom Group, the world’s largest gas company by asset base, accounting for 18 per cent of the world’s total natural gas reserves and for about 70 per cent of natural gas reserves in Russia. GM&T is headquartered in London and was established in 1999 to manage Gazprom's marketing and trading activities in the liberalised markets of Europe.
