Shtokman LNG order expected to attract major yards interest

Reports from the Far East name the yards that are said to be competing for the valuable LNG carrier tender for as many as 16-20 new vessels for the Shtokman LNG project. The ships must be capable of handling the severe conditions in the Barents Sea.

The three major South Korean shipyards, namely Hyundai, Samsung and Daewoo, are reported to be lining up alongside Mitsubishi and Kawasaki of Japan. Initial proposals have to be submitted to Gazprom Global by the end of the currect month, though the actual tender process is not expected to begin until some weeks later, despite initial discussions having been carried out with some interested builders for the first half dozen ships earlier this year.

Reports suggest that, with Russia hoping to expand its shipyard activities into the LNG market, the proposals will have to include a certain amount of local content. One or more of the ships may actually be built at Russian yards.

It is expected that the ships will make use of either SPB, Moss or NO 96 membrane type containment systems, as Gazprom is said to have discounted the Mark-III membrane type.