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Two icebreaking LNG tankers of the ARC7 ice class built in Russia

13 september 2023

Russian president Vladimir Putin visited the Zvezda shipbuilding complex. During the visit, the president got acquainted with the construction of two icebreaking LNG tankers of the ARC7 ice class, the formation of the hulls of which is currently being carried out in dry dock.

The head of state was shown the Aframax-type tanker Vostochny Prospekt, the multifunctional supply vessel St. Mary, as well as the MR-type tanker Ivan Aivazovsky and the gas carrier Pyotr Stolypin, which is being prepared for sea trials.

The production of these types of vessels is a unique experience for the entire Russian shipbuilding industry.

The project has been implemented since 2016 by a consortium of investors led by Rosneft.

During the visit, the president took part in the naming ceremony of two vessels of the reinforced ice class.

The new gas tanker of the ice class ARC7 was named "Alexey Kosygin" in honor of the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR in 1964-1980. The second tanker, a shuttle of the reinforced ice class ARC6, was named "Valentin Pikul" in honor of the Soviet writer, author of numerous works of art on historical and naval subjects.

LNG tankers of the ARC 7 ice class are designed to transport liquefied natural gas and are capable of operating in harsh climatic conditions and overcoming ice two meters thick.

In total, 12 vessels have already been launched at the shipyard, four Aframax tankers with a total deadweight of 450.000 tons have been handed over to customers, 23 more vessels out of more than 50 in the company's order portfolio are being actively built. The total deadweight of orders exceeds three million tons.

Alex Shishlo for Rough&Polished