GAC Russia’s Arc7 class LNG carrier completes maiden port

MURMANSK/SABETTA, Russia – GAC Russia has marked a milestone with its handling of the first LNG carrier designed to withstand Arctic conditions at the icy Russian ports of Murmansk and Sabetta.

The Christophe De Margerie is the world’s first specialized LNG ship in the reinforced ice Arc7 class, and the first of a fleet of 15 designed to export LNG from Sabetta to European and Asian markets.

When it arrived in Murmansk for its ice trails in the Kara Sea, GAC Russia provided the vessel with a range of services, including: obtaining its permit to operate in Russian territorial waters; boarding engineers and scientists for the trials; delivering equipment and supplies on board; coordinating her route with the Russian Coast Guard Service; and providing valuable advice on navigation in the Arctic. Once the trials were concluded, customs and border formalities were completed and the ice crew disembarked. GAC Russia also handled safe passenger operations in Murmansk, arranged bunker supplies and delivered machine parts and ship supplies.

The ship then set sail for her first call at Sabetta, on Yamal. The port is dedicated to exports of gas and gas condensate from the South-Tambeyskoye gas field and home to a natural gas liquefaction plant to prepare the raw hydrocarbons for transportation by sea. Commercial shipments are expected to commence before the end of this year.

Tatyana Shorokhova, GAC Russia’s General Manager, said the expertise of GAC’s team at the port was an integral part of the successful preparation and implementation of the high profile maiden call of the first ice LNG carrier to the port.

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