Novatek Begins LNG Ship-to-Ship Transfers in Murmansk

Russia's Novatek has begun ship-to-ship LNG transhipments in the Kildin Strait of the Barents Sea, near Murmansk, it said on November 25.

The Arc7 Nikolay Yevgenov LNG carrier transferred a cargo from the Yamal LNG export plant in the Russian Arctic to the conventional Yamal Spirit tanker, Novatek said. The transfer took place at a temporary transshipment complex in the Murmansk region, which is due to be replaced by a permanent terminal by the time Novatek's Arctic LNG-2 export plant starts up in 2023.

Novatek said it marked the first time ship-to-ship LNG transhipment had taken place in Russia. Transferring LNG cargoes on to conventional tankers once they have been transported through ice-packed Arctic waters saves on delivery times and costs. Novatek previously conducted some ship-to-ship transfers off Norway.

The company plans to develop a similar facility to the Murmansk terminal in Kamchatka, to support deliveries to Asia-Pacific markets.