The Zvezda Shipbuilding Complex (SSC) officially handed over the first Russian-built LNG carrier "Aleksey Kosygin" of project SN2366 to Sovcomflot PJSC. The ceremony took place in the Primorsky Territory, where the lead ship of the series for the Arctic LNG-2 project was built and launched.
"Aleksey Kosygin" is an Arc 7 ice-class tanker capable of independently navigating through Arctic ice more than two meters thick. Its cargo capacity exceeds 172 thousand cubic meters of liquefied natural gas. The vessel is equipped with three rudder propellers developed and manufactured at the SSC "Zvezda" by the "Sapphire" plant. The LNG carrier is 300 meters long, 48.8 meters wide, has a deadweight of 81 thousand tons, and a power plant capacity of 60 MW.
The tanker was constructed using a dry dock, one of the largest in the world. Its technical parameters allow for the construction of vessels with a displacement of up to 350 thousand tons, which became possible in Russia for the first time. Before handing over to the customer, the complex's specialists conducted gas and sea trials, including equipment testing in various load modes. Gas tests were conducted in the Far East for the first time, which emphasizes the technological independence of the shipbuilders.
Igor Tonkovidov, General Director of Sovcomflot, noted that the delivery of the lead ship in the series will accelerate the delivery of subsequent LNG carriers. He confirmed that in 2026 the company expects to receive two more vessels, which will immediately begin operating as part of Russia's large-scale Arctic program.
The Zvezda Shipbuilding Complex project is being created on the basis of the Far Eastern Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Center with the support of Rosneftegaz, Rosneft, and Gazprombank. The shipyard has an order for 28 vessels from Rosneft and currently has a portfolio of more than 60 ships, including Leader-class nuclear icebreakers, new-generation Arctic tankers, shuttle tankers, and multifunctional supply vessels. 16 vessels have already been launched, and more than 20 are actively under construction.