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The keel of a new large-capacity gas carrier for LNG transportation in low temperature conditions has been laid down at the STX Offshore and Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. yard in South Korea.

The vessel is being constructed against an order from Sovcomflot for Gazprom Global LNG and will be classed by the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS) with the following class notation:

RS class notation: KM (*)Ice2 AUT1 OMBO EPP ANTI-ICE LI CCO ECO-S WINTERIZATION(-30) Gas carrier type 2G (methane).

The gas carrier will also be classed by Lloyd’s Register and is scheduled to be launched at the end of April, 2013.

The ship is the second in a series of four LNG carriers with membrane-type cargo tanks with a capacity of approximately 170,000 cubic metres, currently being built at the STX Offshore & Shipbuilding yard in South Korea under RS survey.

The official launch of the prototype ship of the series - Velikiy Novgorod - was held on January 15, 2013.

The latest gas carrier includes a tri-fuel diesel-electric propulsion plant that allows for the use of LNG as fuel, thus reducing NOx and SOx emissions.