Who built the tanker Christophe de Margerie. LNG carrier "Christophe de Margerie" completed loading at the port of Sabetta and began its first commercial voyage under the Yamal LNG project

19.04.2021

Author Dmitry Viktorovich Lobusov captain of the nuclear-powered ship "50 Years of Victory" http://dmitry-v-ch-l.livejournal.com/ which escorted the gas carrier to the port of Sabetta

Many media covered this event ( you can read on AS Ctavr). I will just add a few words and images describing the events leading up to the celebration.

It's a bit of a shame for our own nuclear icebreaker fleet - there would be neither a port nor a gas carrier in the port without the help of nuclear icebreakers. In fairness, it must be said that the construction of new nuclear icebreakers would not have happened if it were not for this grandiose project - Yamal LNG.

So: March 27, 2017 in coordinates 73 gr. 3 min. US, 72 gr. 44 min. VD, at exactly the designated time - 22.00 Moscow time, the icebreaker "50 Let Pobedy" began escorting the gas carrier "Christophe De Margerie" to the south from the Kara Sea deep into the Gulf of Ob.

Many people are surprised by the name. Therefore, I will explain - Christophe De Margerie was the president of the French concern "Total" and tragically died on the night of October 20-21, 2014 in a plane crash at Moscow's Vnukovo airport, when a Dassault Falcon plane collided with an airfield snowplow.
20% of the Yamal LNG project is owned by the Total concern. And during the sanctions boom, "Total" under the leadership of Christoph did not turn away from this project.
Paying tribute, it was decided to name the first tanker in a series of 15 gas carriers after the deceased.
I wrote about the names of the next tankers of this project earlier - For gas carriers - the names of Arctic explorers

Interesting fact- with the advent of this series of tankers, a new classification of the sizer has appeared - YAMALMAX
I'll try to explain in pictures the origin of this size.
Vessels of large sizes are built, divided or attributed according to their dimensions to different types.
This classification takes into account the peculiarities of the navigation area, namely the depths in the straits and port waters, the dimensions of the locks, the conditions of navigation on artificial channels and inland waterways. The actual navigation situation on the ocean and sea routes is the reason why the size of ships has clear requirements. (see - Classification of cargo ship sizes)
So, the port of Sabetta is located on east coast the Yamal Peninsula, the path to it lies along the shallow section of the Gulf of Ob, where the depths in the fairway were 9-10 meters.

BUT)

Gas carriers for the Yamal LNG project have a loaded draft of 11.8 m. In order for them to go to the port, dive and go to the ocean, a channel was dug 290 m wide and 26 nautical miles (48 km) long. It is so narrow that it is not visible on a small-scale map (a), therefore, below I present a map of a man-made canal with the contour of a nuclear icebreaker, which has dimensions more modest than a gas carrier, only 160 m long, 30 m wide. But we have a draft of 11 m, so we can also cross this shallow water only along the channel.
This channel determined the new standard size - Yamalmax.

It was already beginning to get light and we were just pulling into the canal with the gas carrier.

The icebreaker has made a channel in the ice, but there is compression. Most of the boats we sail would be jammed and stopped. But "Christoph" has a capacity of 60 thousand hp and pushes the ice destroyed by us, confidently following us.

The last turn on the strictly straight course of the channel. You can see how much wider the gas carrier is than the icebreaker (we are 30 m - the gas carrier is 50 m).
This was the first, experimental passage of a section of the road that was difficult in terms of navigation and ice, therefore, the Vaigach a/l was involved as a safety net.
Large icebreakers of the Arktika type, to which the 50 Years of Pobedy a/l belongs, cannot pierce ships on the canal. And the "Vaigach" has less sediment, and it feels more at ease at the depths surrounding our path.
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We go along the channel and heavy ice.
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But, lately, favorable winds have been blowing, and in the middle of the channel there was only young ice, which is "too tough" not only for such a giant. Therefore, "Vaigach" went to overtake in order to run to the aid of other icebreakers in need of help.
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We also leave the gas carrier on our own to follow to the port of destination. And we run ahead. But on the way we meet with "Vaigach" we transfer people to him, we transfer spare parts. (Unfortunately, I did not film this process).
During this time, "Christophe De Margerie" overtook us for the happiness of the photographer. The second assistant to the photographer was the Sun, which made the sky blue and illuminated the sides of the gas carrier through the clouds.
I apologize for the bunch below - I could not resist and post a lot of photos.

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And here is the port of Sabetta. The berth to which the gas carrier is to be moored. L / c "Moscow" has already prepared an approach channel, which we also used to inquire.
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Solemn moment - the gas carrier approaches the port water area.
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Icebreakers stand aside and watch the process.
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The gas carrier slowly, majestically and carefully passes the "gates" of the port. These are ice protection structures that protect the port from the drifting ice of the Gulf of Ob, as well as from the flow of the river.
The icebreakers meeting with menacing and lingering beeps meet the one for the sake of which the port was built.

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Heading towards the pier.
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Getting closer
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And closer.
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And here he is at the pier - moored.
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It was evening.
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And here is some video from our

MOSCOW, June 3 - RIA Novosti. The Arctic gas carrier, the first vessel designed for the Yamal LNG project, was named after Christophe de Margerie. The naming ceremony took place in St. Petersburg as part of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

The vessel is named after the French businessman, head of the oil company Total, who died in 2014 in a disaster at Vnukovo airport. The President of Russia, speaking at the ceremony, noted that Christophe de Margerie was a true friend of Russia.

"He had a special strategic vision, did a lot to strengthen friendly, partnership ties with Russia, contributed to the implementation of a number of major joint projects in the energy sector," Putin said.

According to him, the naming of the newest tanker by the de Margerie name has become another symbol of a sincere, kind attitude towards this outstanding person and a tribute to his memory.

On the night of October 21, 2014 at Moscow's Vnukovo airport, a Unijet light-engine Falcon 50EX collided with a snowplow during takeoff. In the crash, in addition to the head of Total, three crew members were killed. Snowplow driver Vladimir Martynenko pleaded guilty to the incident.

Flagship for the Arctic

The President noted that the tanker will become the flagship in a line of 15 ships. All of them are intended for the large-scale Yamal LNG project.

"I would like to note that this project is, without exaggeration, significant not only for our country, and, perhaps, not only for Europe," Putin said. According to him, this project as a whole will be a significant contribution to the development of world energy.

"He promotes successful development global spaces, generates demand for innovative technologies in the field of hydrocarbon production and transportation, creates jobs in our country and abroad. Yamal LNG plays an important role in the development of the Northern Sea Route, in the development of the Arctic,” the Russian leader added.

In addition to the president, the naming ceremony was attended by Speaker of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko, Minister of Transport Maxim Sokolov, heads of Novatek, Sovcomflot, VTB, Total, and Bernadette Jacqueline de Margerie, the widow of the deceased head of Total.

The "godmother" of the ship was Valentina Matvienko, who previously held the post of governor of St. Petersburg. It was she who broke the traditional bottle of champagne on the board. After that, the ship's signal sounded three times.

Unique vessel

"Christophe de Margerie" became the first of a dozen and a half gas carriers that are planned to be built for the Yamal LNG project.

The tanker is able to operate at temperatures down to minus 52 degrees and overcome ice up to 2.1 meters thick. Its capacity is more than 170 thousand cubic meters of liquefied natural gas, and the total power of the main diesel engines is comparable to the power of a modern nuclear-powered icebreaker.

The tanker was built in accordance with the requirements of the Polar Code and is distinguished by high energy efficiency and environmental safety. Along with traditional types of fuel, the installation of the vessel can use boil-off liquefied natural gas, which can significantly reduce emissions of harmful substances into the atmosphere.

The high ice-breaking capability and exceptional maneuverability of the new tanker were confirmed during ice trials, which took place from February 19 to March 8 in the Kara Sea and the Laptev Sea. During the tests, the tanker passed through the Northern Sea Route and arrived at the port of Sabetta on the Gulf of Ob.

Special tankers of reinforced ice class Arc7 will allow year-round navigation along the Northern Sea Route without icebreaking assistance to the west and during the Arctic summer - to the east. Tankers have a dual action system - the bow is adapted for navigation in open water and in thin ice conditions, and the stern is optimized for independent navigation in difficult ice conditions. Speed in open water - 19.5 knots; speed when moving in ice up to one and a half meters thick - 5.5 knots. The construction of tankers for the Yamal LNG project is carried out by the South Korean shipyard Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering.

The second similar tanker was launched in January. It will be named after Eduard Toll, a Russian geologist and Arctic explorer. As the SeaNews portal reported at the beginning of the year, five more ships of this project will also receive the names of Russian Arctic explorers: Rudolf Samoylovich, Boris Vilkitsky, Fyodor Litke, Vladimir Rusanov and Vladimir Vize.

Gas from Yamal

The Yamal LNG project with a total capacity of 16.5 million tons per year is being implemented at the resource base of the South Tambeyskoye field. The project shareholders are Novatek (50.1%), Total (20%), CNPC (20%) and the Silk Road Fund (9.9%).

The first line of the plant is planned to be put into operation at the end of this year, and a total of three lines will be built. The seaport of Sabetta will provide year-round navigation along the Northern Sea Route.

According to Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak, the launch of Yamal LNG at full capacity will increase gas exports by more than 10 percent and increase Russia's share in the global LNG market to 8-9 percent.

“In terms of its characteristics, the gas carrier has no analogues in the world, it has been assigned the Arc7 ice class. It is able to independently overcome ice up to 2.1 m thick, its capacity is 172,600 cubic meters. m," Sovcomflot said in a release. This is the first tanker of a new type of vessel - Yamalmax. The tanker will be able to follow the Northern Sea Route all year round in the western direction from Sabetta and for six months (from July to December) in the eastern direction, earlier summer navigation in the Northern Sea Route was limited to four months and only accompanied by an icebreaker.

The cost of the gas carrier Sovcomflot does not disclose. But for its construction, the company took out a loan of $319 million, and earlier its cost was estimated at $340 million. In total, 15 such tankers were ordered for the Yamal LNG project, their total estimate in 2014 was about $5.5 billion.

“The fuel for the tanker is boil-off LNG, i.e. its cargo, for the charterer of the vessel, Yamal LNG, the cheapest way is to use the natural evaporation of your own cargo,” Sergey Frank, President of Sovcomflot, said at the welcoming ceremony for the gas carrier. The tanker can also use conventional fuels.

The Yamal LNG plant is being built in three phases to be launched in 2017, 2018 and 2019; it will be able to annually produce 16.5 million tons of LNG and up to 1.2 million tons of gas condensate. The first line of the plant will be put into operation this year, said the chairman of the board and largest shareholder Novatek Leonid Mikhelson. “According to my expectations, until October,” added Patrick Pouyanne, president of Total. LNG from Yamal, according to Mikhelson, will be sold on the spot market this year, and next year under long-term contracts.

Yamal LNG

LNG plant construction project
The shareholders are Novatek (50.1%), Total (20%), CNPC (20%), Silk Road Fund (9.9%).
It is developing the South-Tambeyskoye gas field with reserves of 491 billion cubic meters. m in the Yamalo-Nenets autonomous region

The remaining gas carriers for the project, also Yamalmax, are still under construction and will be put into operation gradually until 2020, the project will also serve other vessels of a lower ice class, says Raiffeisenbank analyst Konstantin Yuminov. All 15 gas carriers will be built by the Korean shipyard Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, six of them for the Canadian Teekay LNG, five for the Greek Dynagas and three for the Japanese Mitsui OSK Lines. Yamal LNG has signed 45-year transportation contracts with these companies.

The representative of Novatek does not comment on the terms of readiness of other vessels.

The appearance of such vessels will generally increase the attractiveness of the Northern Sea Route - of course, primarily for oil and gas projects - and will contribute to the development of the infrastructure of the entire region, Yuminov emphasized.

The only icebreaking gas carrier in the world August 23rd, 2017

There are two views of the Northern Sea Route. Supporters of the first argue that it will never become profitable and no one will use it in large numbers, while supporters of the second argue that this is only the beginning: the ice will melt even more and let this one be the most profitable in certain circumstances. It seems to me that the second one wins. It is not for nothing that such topics are thrown about

LNG carrier Christophe de Margerie (ship owner of PAO Sovcomflot) successfully completed its first commercial voyage on August 17, 2017, delivering a consignment of liquefied natural gas (LNG) via the Northern Sea Route (NSR) from Norway to South Korea.

During the voyage, the ship set a new record for crossing the NSR - 6.5 days. At the same time, Christophe de Margerie became the first merchant ship in the world that was able to navigate the NSR without icebreaking assistance throughout this route.

When crossing the NSR, the ship covered 2193 miles (3530 km) from Cape Zhelaniya in the archipelago New Earth to Cape Dezhnev in Chukotka - the extreme eastern mainland point of Russia. Exact time the transition was 6 days 12 hours 15 minutes.

During the voyage, the vessel again confirmed its exceptional suitability for operation in high latitudes. The average speed during the passage exceeded 14 knots, despite the fact that in some sections the gas carrier was forced to go through ice fields up to 1.2 m thick. using the Northern Sea Route was 22 days, which is almost 30% less than it would be required when crossing the traditional southern route through the Suez Canal. The results of the flight made it possible to once again confirm economic efficiency use of the Northern Sea Route for the transit of large-capacity vessels.
"Christophe de Margerie" is the first and so far the only icebreaking gas carrier in the world. The unique vessel was built by order of the Sovcomflot group of companies for year-round transportation of LNG as part of the Yamal LNG project. The vessel was put into operation on March 27, 2017 after the successful completion of ice trials that took place in the Kara Sea and the Laptev Sea.

The gas carrier is able to independently overcome ice up to 2.1 m thick. The vessel has an Arc7 ice class, the highest among existing transport vessels. The power of the propulsion plant of the gas carrier is 45 MW, which is comparable to the power of a modern nuclear-powered icebreaker. Christophe de Margerie's high ice-breaking capability and maneuverability are ensured by Azipod-type rudder propellers, while it became the world's first high-ice-class vessel with three Azipods installed at once.
The gas carrier is named after Christophe de Margerie, ex-head of the Total concern. He played a key role in making investment decisions and technological scheme project "Yamal LNG" and made a significant contribution to the development of Russian-French economic relations generally.

Sovcomflot Group (SKF Group) is the largest shipping company in Russia, one of the world's leading companies in the marine transportation of hydrocarbons, as well as servicing offshore exploration and production of oil and gas. Own and chartered fleet includes 149 vessels with a total deadweight of more than 13.1 million tons. Half of the ships have an ice class.

Sovcomflot is involved in servicing major oil and gas projects in Russia and around the world: Sakhalin-1, Sakhalin-2, Varandey, Prirazlomnoye, Novy Port, Yamal LNG, Tangguh (Indonesia). The company's head office is located in St. Petersburg, representative offices are located in Moscow, Novorossiysk, Murmansk, Vladivostok, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, London, Limassol and Dubai.

sources

Yesterday, our President received a report from the LNG carrier "Christophe De Margerie" on the successful arrival of the ship in the newly built port of Sabetta beyond the Arctic Circle.

Below the spoiler are links to posts by bloggers who wrote about the emergence and construction of this port:
Start- http://yarepka.livejournal.com/10529.html
Port of Sabetta- http://zavodfoto.livejournal.com/4838728.html
Yamal LNG- http://zavodfoto.livejournal.com/4827701.html

Many media covered this event. I will just add a few words and images describing the events leading up to the celebration.

Many people are surprised by the name. Therefore, I will explain - Christophe De Margerie was the president of the French concern "Total" and tragically died on the night of October 20-21, 2014 in a plane crash at Moscow's Vnukovo airport, when a Dassault Falcon plane collided with an airfield snowplow.
20% of the Yamal LNG project is owned by the Total concern. And during the sanctions boom, "Total" under the leadership of Christoph did not turn away from this project.
Paying tribute, it was decided to name the first tanker in a series of 15 gas carriers after the deceased.
About the names of the next tankers of this project, I wrote earlier -

An interesting fact - with the advent of this series of tankers, a new classification of the sizer has appeared - YAMALMAX
I'll try to explain in pictures the origin of this size.
Vessels of large sizes are built, divided or attributed according to their dimensions to different types.
This classification takes into account the peculiarities of the navigation area, namely the depths in the straits and port waters, the dimensions of the locks, the conditions of navigation on artificial channels and inland waterways. The actual navigation situation on the ocean and sea routes is the reason why the size of ships has clear requirements. (see - Classification of cargo ship sizes)
So, the port of Sabetta is located on the eastern coast of the Yamal Peninsula, the path to it lies along the shallow section of the Gulf of Ob, where the depths in the fairway were 9-10 meters.

It was already beginning to get light and we were just pulling into the canal with the gas carrier.

We go along the channel and heavy ice.
7.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

And here is the port of Sabetta. The berth to which the gas carrier is to be moored. L / c "Moscow" has already prepared an approach channel, which we also used to inquire.
16.