After years of effort, Russia’s Zvezda has successfully delivered an ice-class shuttle tanker for the first time.
This Arc6 ice-class Panamax shuttle tanker has a deadweight of 69,000 tons and is named “Valentin Pikul”. It has been delivered to the registered shipowner Rosnefteflot JSC. The vessel is expected to transport oil from the Varandey offshore loading system in the Pechora Sea (the northernmost continuously operating oil terminal in the world) to the Murmansk transshipment hub.
“Valentin Pikul” is 257 meters long and has an ice class of Arc6. It can sail in ice 1.5 meters thick. Its bow and stern are equipped with icebreaking devices and can operate independently without the assistance of an icebreaker.
“Valentin Pikul” took nearly seven years from order placement to delivery. As early as December 2020, the ship’s keel was laid, which was four years ago. Like other Arc7 ice-class LNG carriers built by Zvezda, most of this vessel was designed and constructed by Samsung Heavy Industries and then fully assembled at Zvezda.
Following the “Valentin Pikul,” Zvezda Shipbuilding Complex will also deliver the first Arc7 ice-class LNG carrier, the “Aleksey Kosygin.” The vessel began sea trials in December last year and is expected to be delivered in 2025.
Between 2019 and 2022, Samsung Heavy Industries received a total of 22 design contracts (not construction contracts) from Zvezda. These contracts included providing segments, equipment, and technical support for 15 ice-class LNG carriers and 7 shuttle tankers, with a total contract value of $4.2 billion.
Later, due to Western sanctions, Samsung Heavy Industries delivered only five LNG hulls to Zvezda, one of which is the above mentioned “Aleksey Kosygin”.
The delivery of the other four ice-class LNG carriers will depend on Russia’s ability to complete the membrane containment systems and fully-rotating rudder propellers for the LNG carriers without Western suppliers.