28 December 2018, Sovcomflot placed an order at Zvezda shipbuilding complex for the construction of three new generation product carriers that use LNG as primary fuel.
According to the company, the three MR-class vessels will have a deadweight of 51,000 tons each. They will be chartered to Novatek under long-term time charter agreements to carry petroleum products and gas condensate.
Each tanker will have an ice class of 1B, enabling safe operations in areas with challenging ice conditions, including the Baltic.
Using LNG fuel enables to significantly reduce emissions. Compared to engines burning standard marine fuels, LNG-powered engines release 27% less Carbon Dioxide (CO2), 85% less Nitrogen Oxide (NOx), 100% less Sulphur Oxides (SOx), and 100% less particulate matter.
The technical specification of the tankers reflects the international regulatory limits on sulphur, nitrogen and greenhouse gas emissions, which will come into effect in 2020.
In September 2018, Sovcomflot Group ordered two 114,000 DWT LNG-fueled Aframax crude oil tankers from Zvezda.
In 2018, Sovcomflot already took delivery of three LNG-fueled Aframax crude oil tankers.