Russia’s Novatek has started a pre-qualification process for shipowners interested in participating in its planned $25.5bn Arctic LNG 2 export project.

Expressions of interest were due in at the end of last week, industry sources watching the process said.

They say Novatek circulated its early day requirement on the ships based on a repeat order of the 15 Arc7 ice-class LNG carriers, which were ordered for the company’s first Arctic LNG project Yamal LNG.