On May 4th, Hyundai Mipo Dockyard held a launching ceremony for gas carrier Sibur Voronezh, the first out of two semi-refrigerator LPG carriers ordered by Sovcomflot Group (SCF). Sibur Voronezh is due to be completed and delivered in mid July 2013, whereas the second gas carrier Sibur Tobol is scheduled for completion by September 2013.
The new vessels are being built under the supervision of two classification societies – Lloyd’s Register (LR) and the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS) – and have been designed in line with all relevant international requirements and standards.
The new gas carriers have a cargo capacity of 20,600m³ and were designed in collaboration with SCF Group experts according to SIBUR requirements. These ships are specially designed to be fitted with a ballast water management system – a compulsory requirement for vessels from the end of 2013.
The structural design of the vessels includes a reinforced hull for year-round operations in the harsh climatic conditions of the North Atlantic. These robust vessels will have an active service life of 25 years, although this figure will significantly increase if they are used in normal climatic conditions. The design of these 1B ice class vessels (Ice3 in the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping) will allow them to operate effectively in the low temperatures of the Baltic Sea during their winter passages.
[mappress] World Maritime News Staff, May 7, 2013; Image: SCF