Russia's Zvezda Shipbuilding Complex has laid the keel of a new icebreaking LNG carrier ordered by local shipowner SCF Group.
The vessel will be the first in a planned series of 14 ordered by the SMART LNG joint venture formed by SCF and Novatek.
Delivery is scheduled for 2023. Once in service, the vessel will be used for the year-round transport of LNG along Russia's Northern Sea Route.
The LNG carrier will have a length of 300 metres, a beam of 48.8 metres, and a total cargo capacity of 172,600 cubic metres. The propulsion system will include three azimuth propulsion units with a total output of 45 MW.