Russia’s Zvezda Shipyard Launches ‘Sergei Witte’ for Year-Round Arctic LNG Transport

Zvezda Shipbuilding Complex, based in Russia, has successfully launched its latest vessel, “Sergei Witte,” marking a significant milestone for the Arctic LNG project. This ship is designed for year-round transportation of LNG via the Northern Sea Route.

The “Sergei Witte” belongs to the ARC7 ice class and is the third of fifteen LNG carriers commissioned by Sovcomflot, a Russian shipping company. These carriers are integral to Novatek’s Arctic LNG 2 initiative. Notably, the initial two ships in this series, christened “Aleksey Kosygin” and “Pyotr Stolypin,” are currently undergoing final outfitting.

With a substantial capacity of 172,600 cubic meters, the “Sergei Witte” spans 300 meters in length and 48.8 meters in width and boasts a deadweight tonnage of 81,000 tons. The propulsion system employs three azimuth units, collectively generating 45 MW of power. This advanced vessel can even navigate through the ice as thick as 2 meters.

These ships will be registered under the Russian flag and operate under long-term charter agreements. The inaugural ship will serve Sovcomflot in a pilot program. At the same time, the subsequent fourteen vessels will fall under the charter agreement of SMART LNG, a subsidiary jointly owned by Sovcomflot and Novatek.

Upon entering service, these vessels will enable continuous year-round LNG transportation along the Northern Sea Route to the Asia Pacific region. Russia has been steadfast in its pursuit of self-sufficiency with ice-capable crude oil and LNG carriers. The imposition of Western sanctions has greatly accelerated these efforts.