Ice-breaking LNG carrier makes debut call at Japan port
MITSUI O.S.K. Lines Ltd. (MOL) said its icebreaking liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier has made its first call at the LNG terminal in Japan, transporting its cargo from Yamal, Russia via the Northern Sea route.
MOL President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Junichiro Ikeda announced the historical debut call of the ice-breaking LNG carrier, named Vladimir Rusanov at the LNG Terminal in Ohgishima inside Tokyo Bay, Japan last July 23.
The Vladimir Rusanov LNG carrier was jointly owned and operated by MOL and China COSCO Shipping Corp. Ltd. for the Yamal LNG project.
MOL has been working assiduously to make a significant contribution to the stable
LNG transportation from the Yamal LNG plant, and accumulate a deeper knowledge and understanding on vessel operations using the Northern Sea Route to facilitate new Arctic projects in the future.
“The vessel started sailing from the Yamal LNG plant at Sabetta port on June 29, and transported its LNG cargo to Japan by sailing eastwards along the Northern Sea Route via the Kara Sea, the Laptev Sea, the East Bering Sea, the Chukchi sea and the Bering Strait.” MOL said.
“Although the ice in the Northern Sea Route generally melts in the period from the end of June to the beginning of July, during the time the vessel was navigating this region, some ice remained, particularly in the East Bering Sea,” it added.
The vessel conducted ice-breaking navigation in areas where ice remained, which resulted in approximately seven days navigation, with 15 knots average navigation speed through the Northern Sea Route from Sabetta port to the Bering Strait.
MOL said transportation from the Russian Arctic through the Northern Sea Route has contributed to reduction in greenhouse gas emissions as the required navigation distance was 65 percent shorter than the Suez Canal. Additionally, energy transportation through the Northern Sea Route has enabled Asian countries, including Japan that relies on natural energy imports, to develop a new energy supply route.
The vessel was built as double-acting LNG carrier, with maximum ice-breaking capability
of 2.1 meter astern. It has an ice-strengthened hull structure. The hull weight increased by 25 percent with 70-millimeter ice knife plate thickness of low temp steel.
The ship has complete double hull construction; two engine rooms (center bulkhead); and sea ater intake (ice sea chest). The dual bridge stations are fully enclosed type, and the polar specification navigation unit has ice radar, high luminance searchlight, infrared camera, iridium wireless communication equipment, among others.
It has winterization in living quarters consist of three heating systems, sauna and heated pool. The winterization on deck has semienclosed mooring space with electric-driven, heat tracing and de-icing features. It has polar design lifesaving equipment and survival kits.