October 6 Sovcomflot named its new Arctic shuttle tanker in a ceremony held in Vladivostok. The ship was named “Mikhail Lazarev” as a tribute to the great Russian sailor and explorer.
The vessel will be deployed to carry oil from Novy Port under a long-term charter agreement with Gazpromneft, which operates the project.
The new tanker is a sistership of the “Shturman Albanov” series designed for round-the-year operations in the Ob bay. The first three ships of the series were put into operation in 2016 and have carried 9.5 mn tons of crude by the Northern Sea Route since then.
The Arc7 tankers area capable of moving in 1.8-meter thick ice without icebreakers and operate under minus 45 degrees Centigrade. Their hull construction allows them to maneuver freely in the shallow Ob bay.
Taking into account the experience operating the ‘older’ sisterships’, the power unit configuration of “Mikhail Lazarev” was optimized to make it more efficient in the severe Arctic conditions.
“Mikhail Lazarev” will fly the Russian flag and crewed with Russian sailors and officers, the home port is St. Petersburg.
Vessel details:
- 41,000 dwt;
- Arc7 ice class;
- 248.9 LOA;
- 34 m beam;
- 9.5 m draft;
- 14 knots.