The "Pilgrim" was developed by the St. Petersburg-based "Malachite" Design Bureau, with the project first presented in 2019 at the "Neva 2019" exhibition. In early October 2024, a slightly modified version was presented at the St. Petersburg International Gas Forum, and the LNG carrier took a step towards realization: an agreement was reached with Gazprom to begin its design.
Characteristics of the "Pilgrim" nuclear-powered LNG carrier:
- length — 360 meters, width — 70 meters, height — 12 meters;
- cargo capacity — up to 180 thousand tons per voyage;
- speed — about 17 knots per hour;
- Northern Sea Route transit time — 12 days;
- the "heart" of the LNG carrier is three "Rhythm-200" nuclear reactors, which will power three 30 MW propulsion electric motors each. Currently, two such reactors are installed on Russian nuclear icebreakers.
Presumably, two such subsea LNG carriers will replace the operation of an entire prospective gas pipeline. The first voyage for the "Pilgrim" is expected in the next 10-15 years.
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