The LNG bunkering vessel was named after the great Russian chemist Dmitry Mendeleev. The new vessel will become part of the Gazprom Neft fleet in the second half of 2021 and will provide LNG transportation and bunkering at the ports of the Gulf of Finland and the Baltic Sea – in St. Petersburg, Ust-Luga, Primorsk.

The newbuilding is designed with a zero discharge principle in mind, and its propulsion system uses LNG gas as a vehicle fuel. The vessel is 100 meters long and 19 meters wide. The LNG bunkering vessel will be able to transport up to 5800 m³ of liquefied natural gas. 

The reinforced hull complies with the Arc4 ice class and allows independent sailing in first-year ice up to 0.8 meters thick. Thanks to the digital integrated system, the vessel can be operated by one person directly from the navigation bridge.

“Due to its environmental and operational characteristics, liquefied natural gas in the medium term will become one of the main types of fuels that will be widely demanded in international shipping,” said Anatoly Cherner, Deputy CEO for Logistics, Refining and Sales of Gazprom Neft.

“Our company is the first in Russia to start a project to build a vessel that uses LNG for bunkering. This is a key stage in the development of domestic ecological shipping. 

“Another important step in this direction will be the completion of the construction and commissioning next year of our own high-tech LNG bunkering vessel.”

Singapore shipyard Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd subsidiary Keppel Singmarine is believed to be the builder of the 5,800 m3 bunkering tanker chartered by Gazpromneft Marine Bunker.