Shturman Koshelev has taken delivery of Russia’s first liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering vessel, Dmitry Mendeleev, from Keppel Offshore and Marine (Keppel O&M).
The 5,800m³ ice-class LNG bunkering vessel (LBV) has been developed and constructed by Keppel O&M. Dmitry Mendeleev, which is the company’s fourth newbuild LBV, was constructed at Keppel Nantong Shipyard in China.
Featuring Keppel’s MTD 5800V LNG design, the vessel measures 100m in length and 19m in width. The 12th ice-class ship delivered by the firm, this vessel was developed by its ship design and development unit, Keppel Marine and Deepwater Technology (KMDTech).
The dual-class LBV is installed with an integrated digital system that can be operated by one person from the navigation bridge. Dmitry Mendeleev has been built in line with the Arc 4 and Ice Class 1A notations from the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping and Bureau Veritas respectively.
The vessel’s hull has been rearranged for autonomous ice voyage in medium first-year summer ice of up to 90cm thickness.
Keppel O&M newbuilds managing director Tan Leong Peng said: “This vessel delivery is testament to Keppel O&M’s in-depth engineering and design capabilities.
“By combining our expertise in LNG and in building ice-class vessels, we are able to provide reliable and more sustainable solutions for the Arctic region.” According to the company, this deal has expanded its ‘track record in solutions for the gas value chain’ and also conforms to Keppel’s Vision 2030.
Keppel O&M has worked on the development of a suite of solutions to promote the demand and supply of LNG as fuel.
Currently, the company is building dual-fuel vessels, including containerships and dredgers. Through FueLNG, its joint venture with Shell Eastern Petroleum, the company is also supporting the use of LNG as a marine fuel.
In January, Singapore’s FueLNG received the first LNG bunkering ship from Keppel O&M.
