A pair of Arc7 LNG carriers laden with cargoes from Russia’s Yamal LNG project are sailing east through the Northern Sea Route (NSR) as the passage opens for summer shipments — but thick ice has been slowing progress.
The 172,600-cbm newbuilding Vladimir Rusanov and sistership Eduard Toll (built 2017) are shown this week as on passage through the NSR. Neither has ice-breaker assistance.
Ship tracking data showed the Vladimir Rusanov as stationary in ice early this week.
On Monday, Global LNG flow forecaster iGIS/LNG showed the ship lying still in the middle of the East Siberian Sea, in a long, narrowish patch of 1.5 to 2.0-metre thick ice, although the vessel began moving forward again shortly afterwards.
Russian experts say thick ice has been experienced in the region this year.
Insiders also say that when the Arc7s are breaking ice, vibrations can cause software issues with the vessels’ Azipod propulsion systems, although these are not thought to be serious.
The Vladimir Rusanov is expected to arrive in Shanghai, China, around 17 July.
Observers of the Russian project say Yamal LNG is keen to demonstrate to its shareholders that it can make these eastbound shipments through the NSR on its Arc7 fleet during the summer months as intended under its plan for exports.
The Novatek-led project wants to show it can ship LNG quickly to Asia as the US gears up its exports to sell cargoes into the same market.
