- Aleksey Kosygin Embarks on Sea Trials as Russia’s LNG Fleet Takes Shape.
- Zvezda’s Aleksey Kosygin to Support Delayed Arctic LNG 2 Project.
- Western Sanctions Challenge Russia’s Arc7 LNG Carrier Program.
In a first of its kind for Russia’s domestic shipbuilding sector, Zvezda, the Vladivostok-based yard, has constructed its first LNG carrier, called Aleksey Kosygin. The ice-capable gas carrier left the shipyard on December 25 to begin sea trials. While this is the first LNG ship built in a Russian yard, key elements were fabricated in South Korea.
Arctic LNG 2 Project
The Aleksey Kosygin will be added to the fleet that is servicing Russia’s Arctic LNG 2 project, which has been severely delayed amid rising Western sanctions. The majority owner, Novatek, has been unable to get ice-capable vessels that could ensure year-round transport via the Arctic. The Arc7 LNG carriers are 300 meters long and 48.8 meters wide, designed for independent navigation along the Northern Sea Route. Equipped with a 45 MW power plant and icebreaking capabilities, they can traverse ice up to 1.7 meters thick.
South Korean Contributions and Sanctions Impact
South Korea’s Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) built major blocks of the Aleksey Kosygin. The hull, up to the forward cargo bulkhead, was built in South Korea and towed to Zvezda in October 2021 for final assembly. GTT, a French company, installed the gas membrane, while propulsion components were sourced from European suppliers MAN and Wärtsilä.
SHI had initially agreed to provide 15 hulls to Zvezda. So far, it delivered five, and that is where the contract terminated in 2024 due to sanctions imposed by the West. Those hulls remain half-baked at various stages, creating concerns about the number of LNG carriers Russia will complete on its own.
Vessel in Queue: Pyotr Stolypin
The second LNG carrier, Pyotr Stolypin, is scheduled to enter service in the near future, after the Aleksey Kosygin. The second vessel, as well as the first one, is highly dependent on Western components and know-how. All three vessels, including the Zvezda shipyard, are subject to U.S. sanctions.
Remaining Hulls and Technology Development Issues
The future of the remaining three hulls is uncertain. GTT completed work on the first two vessels but ceased operations at Zvezda in January 2023 in compliance with the EU’s 8th and 9th sanctions packages. In response, Russia has been working to develop its own LNG membrane technology to reduce dependency on Western suppliers, though its current status remains unclear.
Domestic Innovations in Tanker Membranes
A locally produced tanker plywood has been developed by Russian firm Segezha Group, used in membrane-type insulation panels. Segezha’s product was certified by GTT in 2022 for its Mark III membrane, and it has already been applied in Chinese shipbuilding, which could support the completion of the remaining Arc7 vessels. Industry experts believe that this domestic innovation could help mitigate some of the challenges posed by sanctions and the withdrawal of Western companies.
A Complex Path Forward
Completion of Aleksey Kosygin is an important achievement in the history of Russian shipbuilding, but it puts once again the country’s challenges of sanctions and technological dependency on foreign partners into the foreground. While Russia is working hard on finding self-reliant solutions, its fate with the LNG carrier program remains tightly entwined with its wider geopolitical problems.
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Source: gCaptain
