LNG carrier Ob River to become first vessel to cross Arctic in winter

The Ob River, a large tanker carrying liquified natural gas (LNG), will become the first oil tanker to sail across the Arctic from Europe to Japan.

On 7 November, the tanker sailed from Norway’s Hammerfest across the north of Russia, and is presently heading towards Japan.

The tanker, which is being accompanied by a Russian nuclear-powered icebreaker during most of its voyage, is hoping to shave 20 days off the normal journey.

Equipped with four membrane-type tanks capable of carrying up to 150,000m³ of gas, the ice-classed LNG carrier was built in 2007.

Ob River has been chartered with 40 international crew to Russian energy firm Gazprom Marketing & Trading by Greek shipowner Dynagas.

Dynagas commercial director Tony Lauritzen was quoted by BBC News as saying that the scientific record released recently on melting in the Arctic drove the company to choose the northern route.

"We have studied lots of observation data – there is an observable trend that the ice conditions are becoming more and more favourable for transiting this route," Lauritzen said.

Lauritzen also expressed that the route would help the vessel reach a highly profitable market by saving 40% of the distance, thus using 40% less fuel.

Under a five-year charter contract with Sakhalin Energy, the vessel is currently being used to export LNG within Sakhalin II, the first Russian project for LNG production.

In the aftermath of the Fukushima nuclear disaster, demand for alternative power sources such as gas went up in Japan recently, compared to the US market where demand has slipped due to shale gas revolution.

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Image: Ob River LNG tanker is set to become world’s first ship to sail across Arctic during winter. Photo: Courtesy of Gazprom