Sovcomflot orders five LNG-powered tankers for Rosneft

The agreements to build the tankers were signed between SCF, Rosneft, Russia’s State Leasing Transport Co and Zvedza. Zvedza will jointly build the vessels with Hyundai Heavy Industries.

The ice class 1A/1B 114,000 dwt tankers will be purpose-designed to use LNG as their primary fuel. The newbuildings are due to be delivered in 2021.

SCF will operate and supervise the construction of the tankers.

“We hope that the beginning of serial production of cutting-edge large-capacity LNG-fueled tankers in Russia will facilitate the further development of Russia’s port infrastructure that will allow ships to be bunkered with LNG fuel at Russian ports,” said Sergey Frank, president and ceo of SCF.

“We are also looking forward to seeing Russian regulators and maritime authorities continue with providing incentives for charterers, ship owners, and fleet operators who are taking real steps towards investing in green technologies.”

SCF is one of the first major tanker owners to commit to using LNG as fuel along with AET.

Igor Tonkovidov, executive vice-president and technical director of SCF said: “SCF Group strives to reduce systematically the environmental impact of vessels. To this end, we are prioritising the switch to the use of LNG as a primary vessel fuel, a complex solution which we consider to be efficient both environmentally and economically.”

SCF currently operates three 30,000 dwt ice-class tankers for Rosneft.

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