Novatek’s decision to launch its own shipping company — Maritime Arctic Transport — will allow the 15 specialised Arc7 LNG carriers that were ordered for its Yamal development to be used across other projects.

The energy company is a stakeholder in Yamal, at Ob Bay in the Russian Arctic. LNG shipping experts in Russia have revealed that a move to set up a shipping arm had been considered but not pursued at the start of the project.