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, which were 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 Velikiy Novgorod has been designed for sailing through sea ice and has an Arctic ice classification. The vessel has a total length of 300 m 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 utilised 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 summer 2010.
[mappress] Press Release, March 3, 2014; Image: MAN Diesel & Turbo