LNG carrier Christophe de Margerie sets Northern Sea Route record
On Aug. 17, the Sovcomflot-owned icebreaking LNG carrier Christophe de Margerie completed its first commercial voyage, transporting LNG through the Northern Sea Route (NSR) from Norway to South Korea. During this voyage, the vessel set a new time record for an NSR transit of just 6 days 12 hr and 15 min. Moreover, Christophe de Margerie has also become the world’s first merchant vessel to travel the full length of the NSR without any icebreaker escort.
 |
| Photo courtesy of Yamal LNG. |
During the record-setting voyage, the LNG carrier covered 4,060 km from Cape Zhelaniya of the Novaya Zemlya archipelago to Cape Dezhnev at Chukotka, Russia’s easternmost continental point.
The average speed during the passage exceeded 14 knots, despite the fact that in some areas she had to sail through ice fields 1.2 meters thick.
The total time of the voyage from Hammerfest in Norway to the port of Boryeong in South Korea was 19 days, about 30% faster than the regular southern route through the Suez Canal. This again demonstrates the economic potential of using the Northern Sea Route for large-capacity vessel transits.
Christophe de Margerie is the world’s first and currently the only icebreaking LNG carrier. This vessel has been built to order for SCF Group (Sovcomflot) to serve the Yamal LNG project and transport LNG year-round in the difficult ice conditions of the Kara Sea and Gulf of Ob. The vessel was delivered to Sovcomflot on March 27, following successful ice trials in the Kara and Laptev Seas.
The LNG carrier is capable of sailing independently through ice of up to 2.1 meters thick. She has been assigned an ice class Arc7, the highest ice class amongst existing merchant vessels. Meanwhile, the power of her propulsion system is 45 MW, which is comparable to the capacity of a modern nuclear-powered icebreaker. Christophe de Margerie became the world’s first vessel with a high ice-class to have three Azipod units installed, providing the vessel with a high ice-breaking capability and significant maneuverability.
- Gasum powers Equinor's platform supply vessel with bio-LNG
- ADNOC deploys pioneering AI-enabled process optimization technology
- Mexico Pacific announces long-term LNG SPA with POSCO International
- ONEOK to acquire Medallion and controlling interest in EnLink for $5.9 B
- Golar LNG signs EPC deal for $2.2-B MK II FLNG conversion project
- ONEOK to acquire Medallion and controlling interest in EnLink for $5.9 B
- Picarro launches handheld solution for natural gas leak investigation and closed-loop leak management
- Fincantieri LNG-powered Star Princess launched in Monfalcone
- Oman plans third LNG train, boosting domestic production to more than 15 MMtpy
- Brazil's fossil push undermines Lula's green ambitions
Comments