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A naming ceremony has been held today (January 20) for the new state-of-the-art gas carrier Velikiy Novgorod, ordered by Sovcomflot group of companies (SCF) for the transportation of liquefied natural gas (LNG) for Gazprom group. The ship will operate under a long-term time charter agreement with OAO Sovcomflot.

The ceremony was attended by: Deputy Chairman of the Management Committee, Gazprom, Alexander Medvedev, Deputy CEO of Gazprom Export Elena Burmistrova, who is the Sponsor Lady of the vessel, SCF President and CEO Sergey Frank, and Novgorod city administration representatives, as well as representatives of international financing organisations, Lloyds Maritime Register, and Russian Maritime Register of Shipping.

The Velikiy Novgorod vessel is an Atlanticmax ship with a capacity of approximately 170,200 cubic metres (cbm), a length of 299.9 metres, a width of 45.8 metres and a height of 26 metres.

The vesel's tri-fuel diesel-electric propulsion system has been specially adapted to work in icy conditions. The vessel has been classed as 'Ice2' by the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping. It includes special hardware for operations in low temperature conditions.

According to Gazprom, the Velikiy Novgorod will provide the charterer with the advantage of being able to transport gas on a year-round basis from practically any existing LNG terminal in the world, including Russia’s first LNG terminal, Sakhalin-2, and the forthcoming Vladivostok-LNG terminal.

The design of the gas carriers was developed in collaboration with experts from Gazprom, Sovcomflot, the Russian Maritime Register and the United Shipbuilding Company (OAO OSK). The ship is said to comply with the latest requirements regarding ecological norms, energy-efficiency, working conditions and leisure provision for crews, as well as onboard safety.

Gazprom says the cargo system (reinforced membrane structure) is suited to operations in 'challenging climatic conditions' - a claim which supported by trials carried out in collaboration with experts from the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping and Krylov State Research Centre.

In implementing the project, Gazprom points out that due consideration was paid to the interests of Russia’s shipbuilding industry. Provisions were made for the phased localisation of LNG carrier construction at newly developed shipbuilding facilities in the Russian Federation – first and foremost at the Zvezda yard in the Far East. The first two vessels in the series – Velikiy Novgorod and Pskov – are being built at STX Offshore & Shipbuilding facilities in collaboration with OAO OSK.

"Gazprom gradually implements its strategy in the field of production and supplies of liquefied natural gas. Within this framework we form our own tanker fleet ready to provide the transportation of LNG to any point of the world, as well as along the Northern Sea Route.

"Tankers Velikiy Novgorod and Pskov allow Gazprom to increase the volume of trade seriously and reinforce its positions on the global LNG market," commented Deputy Chairman of the Management Committee of Gazprom, Alexander Medvedev.

Sergey Frank, President and CEO of Sovcomflot, said: "The expansion of the LNG tanker fleet with the addition of modern, high ice class vessels from the Velikiy Novogorod series marks an important stage in the implementation of the OAO Sovcomflot development strategy, which provides for significant growth in the gas transportation segment subject to the development of new industrial projects in the Russian Arctic. SCF fleet currently has 11 gas carriers. A further three vessels, including sistership of Velikiy Novogorod - LNG carrier Pskov, will be delivered within 2014-2015. Counting these deliveries SCF will be certain leader among the LNG operators of ice class gas carriers.

"We are confident that this gas carrier and those to follow in the series will allow Gazprom to strengthen its positions on the global LNG production and supply markets.

"The name of the tanker was a common decision with Gazprom. Velikiy Novgorod is one of Russia’s oldest cities with a glorious history going back to the establishment of the Russian State and the start of merchant shipping between Russia and Europe.

"We are grateful to our partners for the trust they have placed in us and are pleased to offer them first-class, modern LNG transportation services – guaranteeing reliable, efficient and environmentally safe shipping."