China’s Hudong Zhonghua shipyard aims to construct ice-capable LNG carriers for Novatek’s Arctic LNG 2 project.
Last month Russia’s natural gas giant Novatek and its shipping partners took delivery of the last of fifteen ice-breaking Arc7 LNG carriers. These highly specialized vessels transport liquefied natural gas from the Yamal facility off Russia’s Arctic coast to markets in Europe and Asia.
With the opening of the Novatek’s next project, Arctic LNG 2, just three years away, the company is looking for the timely construction of an additional 15 Arc7 LNG carriers.
While the original vessels were constructed by South Korean Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME), China aims to secure contracts for this next batch of vessels. The country’s largest shipyard, Hudong Zhonghua which is a subsidiary of the China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation, has submitted a bid for up to 10 vessels.
Novatek looking abroad to build new Arc7 vessels
As part of Russia’s policy to reinvigorate domestic shipbuilding activities, Novatek had originally intended to procure all 15 vessels for Arctic LNG 2 from the Zvezda shipyard located in Russia’s Far East near Vladivostok.
The shipyard entered into a partnership with Samsung Heavy Industries for the transfer of technology as Zvezda has little experience constructing ice-capable carriers. However, despite Samsung’s assistance, concerns remain about Zvezda’s ability to deliver the vessels on time....MORE
