New year launches for Sovcomflot

The new LNG carrier Velikiy Novgorod was recently launched from STX Offshore & Shipbuilding Co. Ltd shipyard. Ordered by OAO Sovcomflot, it will be used for operations under a long-term agreement with Gazprom Global LNG.

Velikiy Novgorod is the first of two vessels ordered by SCF from STX Offshore & Shipbuilding Co. Ltd and its construction is scheduled for completion in December 2013.

The innovative new Ice2 (C1) Atlanticmax class gas carriers have a cargo capacity of around 170,000 cubic metres and are designed and equipped for navigation in challenging icy conditions.

A naming ceremony has also taken place this month for the Sovcomflot Group fleet’s new tanker.

The vessel, named in honour of the distinguished Russian maritime lawyer, Anatoly Lazarevich Kolodkin, is the third to be built as part of an agreement between OAO Sovcomflot and Zvezda-DSME shipyard in a joint venture involving United Shipbuilding Corporation (Russian Federation) and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (Republic of Korea).

The two other tankers – Nikolay Zuyev and Georgy Maslov are already in operation as part of the SCF fleet.

Anatoly Kolodkin was built in accordance with all existing international and Russian standards governing navigational safety, fuel consumption and ecological protection – it is also designed to run on low-sulphur fuel.

SCF Group subsidiary, OAO Novoship, is overseeing construction work of the vessel and will also take charge of the running and technical maintenance of Anatoly Kolodkin once the vessel enters active service.