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Sovcomflot, Russia’s largest shipping company, has taken delivery of its latest LNG carrier – the Velikiy Novgorod – from South Korea’s STX Offshore & Shipbuilding.

The ship is equipped with a diesel-electric, dual-fuel propulsion system consisting of 2 × MAN 8L51/60DF and 2 × MAN 9L51/60DF engines, offering a total rated power of 34 MW. The system was constructed at MAN Diesel & Turbo’s Augsburg plant in Germany.

The propulsion facility provides the LNG carrier with a highly efficient, low-emission propulsion system, especially when running in gas mode. It also features a high degree of redundancy, while the MAN 51/60 DF engines provide multiple fuelling options.

MAN Diesel & Turbo said that the delivery of the LNG carrier newbuilding orders mark a major milestone in its strategy of expanding its environmentally friendly dual-fuel engine technology into the marine sector. "MAN Diesel & Turbo sees promising opportunities ahead in the significant LNG market," the company said.

The Velikiy Novgorod has been designed for sailing through sea ice and has an Arctic ice classification. The vessel has a total length of 300 metres and a load capacity of 170,200 cubic metres of gas. It is the first in a series of ships to be built by STX Offshore & Shipbuilding in South Korea and becomes the fifth LNG carrier in Gazprom’s fleet of long-term-charter tankers.

While working on the Sovcomflot project, MAN Diesel & Turbo said it utilized the valuable experience it gained from working on its first 51/60DF reference project, delivered in 2010 to Spanish shipping line Elcano. Featuring 5 × MAN 8L51/60DF units, the Castillo de Santisteban has been operating globally since the summer of 2010.