The Zvezda shipyard is once again postponing the delivery dates for Arc7 ice-class tankers for Novatek's Arctic LNG-2 project: the first tanker is scheduled to be delivered in early 2025, and the second during the first quarter. Initially, the tanker was to be delivered in March 2023, but due to labor shortages, the deadlines were postponed several times. To speed up construction, NOVATEK increased the number of its employees at the shipyard from 200 to 500 people.
For the project, Novatek has already contracted 21 Arc7 ice-class tankers, of which 15 are being built by Zvezda. Despite the progress made, another six vessels being built at the South Korean shipyard Hanwha Ocean may not be delivered to the customer due to sanctions. Given the current winter conditions and complex logistics, LNG exports will become a challenge without these tankers.
Experts point out that transportation is possible via ship-to-ship transshipment, which Novatek is already conducting near Kildin Island in the Murmansk region. However, an attempt to organize transshipment in the Cheshskaya Bay of the Barents Sea faced problems due to ice conditions, which make year-round use of cargo ships without icebreakers virtually impossible.
Earlier, www1.ru, citing Bloomberg, reported that the Arctic LNG-2 gas plant, which fell under sanctions, suspended operations due to overflowing warehouses.
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