Initial details have emerged on the problems found in several Arc7 LNG carriers serving the Yamal LNG project, which have forced the ships back into yards for repairs.
TradeWinds understands the issues relate to the welding between the top of the cargo pump tower and the internal tank wall.
The defect is described as “simple to fix” and only found on some of the 15 delivered Arc7 ships.
TradeWinds has recently reported a number of apparently speedy repair jobs to several DSME-built Arc7 vessels, most of which are still under their two-year yard guarantee periods.
Fresh talk in LNG circles this week indicated that another ship — the 172,600-cbm Boris Davydov (built 2018) — will also undergo work shortly.
Late last year, sistership Georgiy Brusilov (built 2018), which is owned by Dynagas in partnership with Sinotrans and China LNG Shipping, underwent repairs in France, while the MOL and China Cosco Shipping-controlled Vladimir Vize (built 2018) returned to South Korea’s DSME to be fixed.
As apparent defects are resolved on some of the Yamal LNG Arc7 vessels, the fleet’s flagship — the 172,600-cbm Christophe de Margerie (built 2017) — has become the first of the 15 ships to undergo dry-docking.
The Christophe de Margerie underwent a paint job while at Denmark’s Fayard facility. Observers said the ship was in good condition after three seasons working in the Arctic ice.
Planning is underway to dry-dock the next four Arc7s as they come up to their 30-month in-service period.
