Last Yamal Arc7 LNG vessel leaves Okpo for Sabetta

The final Arc7 ice-class LNG vessel ordered by the 16.5mn t/yr Yamal LNG project will be delivered in late November, Bermuda-based shipowner Teekay Partners said today.

The 172,600m³ Yakov Gakkel left South Korean shipbuilder DSME's Okpo shipyard on 8 November and is declaring for arrival at Yamal's Sabetta Port on 28 November through the Northern Sea Route (NSR), making it the 15th and final Arc7 to be delivered to the project.

Yamal Arc7 vessels have continued to transit the NSR while empty, although none have done so laden since the 172,600m³ Boris Davydov loaded at Sabetta on 2 October, delivering to South Korea's Incheon import terminal on 25 October.

Teekay owns six Yamal Arc7s through a 50:50 joint venture — TC LNG Shipping — with China LNG Shipping International (CLNG), a subsidiary of China's COSCO Shipping. The venture fell under US Treasury Department sanctions in September, placed on COSCO Shipping Tanker Dalian, which held a 50pc stake in CLNG.

But this stake was transferred to a non-sanctioned COSCO subsidiary, removing the sanctions placed on TC LNG Shipping on 21 October. Teekay "does not expect any material impact" from the sanctions, the firm said today.

source: Argus Media