‘The world’s most powerful LNG carrier’ hits the water for Yamal LNG project
ABB is about to start fitting out the first in the series of azipod-powered LNG ice-going carriers built at Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) that will deliver gas from Russia’s new Yamal LNG export plant in Siberia to buyers in Asia and Europe from next year.
Billed as “the most powerful LNG carrier in the world”, the 172,000mᶾ carrier known as Hull 2418 is the first delivery from the series of icebreaking LNG carriers being built at DSME’s Okpo yard for Yamal LNG, the 16.5 million tonne a year (mta), US$27 billion Russian Arctic project that is due to ship its first cargoes next year.
Switzerland-based ABB is to supply the ships with turbochargers, generators, switchboards, transformers, electric drives, propulsion control and the azipod propulsion systems that will power the vessels through icy Arctic waters. Work begins in March on preparing the first vessel for commissioning start-up of the ABB equipment.
The LNG ships feature dual-fuel diesel-electric (DFDE) propulsion systems and GTT no 96 containment tanks and are built to ARC 7 icebreaking capability. All will be dual-classed with Bureau Veritas and the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping.
Yamal LNG has awarded one vessel to Sovcomflot, three to Mitsui OSK Line, six to Teekay LNG and five to Dynagas. They will load LNG at the port of Sabetta, which aims to maintain year-round operations, and during the summer will sail the northern sea route to deliver LNG to customers in Asia.