The document, signed at the Saint-Petersburg International Economic Forum, outlines Sovcomflot's interest in operating two new vessels on a bareboat charter and Vnesheconombank is investigating the possibility of financing their construction.
Leading shipyards will fight for the contract through a tender process, with the participation of Russian shipbuilders, training of Russian specialists overseas and transfer of LNG technology to Russia on the agenda as well as "subsequent technical support in establishing gas carrier production in Russia" according to the mou.
The 170,000 cu m vessels have been designed specifically for the Yamal project with an Arc7 ice class, diesel-electric propulsion and a trio of 15MW Azipod thrusters. Delivery of the vessels is set for 2016.
"Providing LNG shipping in the challenging climatic conditions of the Arctic requires the mobilisation of significant resources – including advanced shipbuilding technologies and many years experience and expertise of captains and crews working on modern gas-carriers. At Sovcomflot we are confident that our long-standing experience of Arctic shipping and successfully implemented Arctic projects, for example Varandey and the Northern Sea route transit crossings, will ensure we cope successfully with the task of providing uninterrupted LNG transportation, in the challenging climatic conditions of the Yamal Peninsula," said Sovcomflot president Sergey Frank.
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