SCF ship loads maiden cargo for Yamal LNG

SCF Group said its ice-breaking LNG carrier kicked off service with the loading of its first cargo for the Yamal LNG project.

The 172,845-cbm Christophe de Margerie loaded its first cargo at the Port of Sabetta, on the Yamal Peninsula.

The ship is the first in a series of 15 "Yamalmax" ice-breaking LNG carriers employed by the Yamal LNG project. The vessel can sail without escort through ice up to 2.1 metres (7 feet) and carries the highest ice class for existing merchant vessels.

The ship will transit the Northern Sea Route westward from Yamal all year-round to European ports and eastward for six months of the year to Asia Pacific.

Russian president Vladimir Putin says the ship's loading heralds the start of "the enormous task of developing the Arctic and the Northern Sea Route.”

"This is an extremely important sector for Russia," he said.

Sergey Frank, SCF chief executive, said: "We are glad that Yamal LNG duly appreciates the contribution of Sovcomflot, which is why it was our vessel that was entrusted to transport the very first LNG produced here.”