An ice-breaking LNG carrier is heading for the Arctic passage of the Northern Sea Route in January when ice cover can be at its highest.
Eikland Energy data service iGIS/LNG said the 172,600-cbm Vladimir Vize (built 2018) is on course for a return voyage through the NSR.
Kpler data shows the LNG carrier discharged its cargo at China's Rudong LNG terminal around 6 January.
It is unclear, as yet, if the specialist vessel will use ice-breaker assistance. iGIS/LNG said ice conditions to the west of Wrangel Island appear "challenging".
The vessel is signalling that it will arrive at Yamal LNG's Sabetta terminal on 26 January.
The Vladimir Vize, which is owned by Mitsui OSK Lines and China Cosco Shipping, is part of Yamal Trade’s 15-ship Arc7 LNG carrier chartered fleet. These ships were designed to be capable of breaking ice of up to 2.1 metres in thickness.
Repeat performance
This is the second year running that Novatek-led Yamal LNG has opted to put its Arc7 vessels through the NSR in winter.
In January and February 2020, two LNG carriers completed pioneering voyages eastbound without ice breaker assistance, delivering Yamal LNG cargoes to China.
One — the 172,600-cbm Nikolay Yevgenov (built 2019) — sustained damage to an azipod propulsion unit and took the long way home via the Suez Canal, stopping off in northern France for repairs.
But Sovcomflot's 172,600-cbm Christophe de Margerie (built 2017), which is the flagship or the 15-vessel trading Arc7 fleet, made the return trip in ballast.
Russia wants to see the NSR open to year-round navigation from 2024. The country logged record transit and traffic figures for the Arctic passage in 2021.
