Ice-class tankers are designed with double hulls and reinforced propellers to withstand ice pressure. Credit: Evgenii Bakhchev/Shutterstock.

Russia’s first ice-class LNG carrier has begun sea trials, advancing its efforts to expand in the global LNG market despite US sanctions, reported Reuters.

The Alexey Kosygin tanker, named after a Soviet statesman, was built at the Zvezda shipyard and will join Russia’s Arctic LNG 2 fleet, which has been delayed due to US sanctions over the Ukraine conflict.

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The US Treasury has imposed sanctions on the new vessel, which was ordered by Russia’s premier tanker group Sovcomflot to be built at Zvezda.

According to LSEG ship-tracking data, the tanker is currently anchored near Vladivostok, a Pacific port. Sovcomflot has not responded to any inquiries on the matter.

Novatek, holding a 60% stake in Arctic LNG 2, has disclosed plans for the construction of 15 Arc7 ice-class tankers at Zvezda shipyard.

These tankers will be capable of navigating through ice up to 2m thick and will be essential for transporting LNG from Arctic ventures.

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A source with knowledge of the situation reported that Novatek ceased commercial operations at the sole operational train of its Arctic LNG 2 project in October and does not intend to resume operations during the winter season.

Ice-class tankers are typically equipped with double hulls and fortified propellers to endure the rigours of ice pressure.

To date, only three tankers suitable for Arctic LNG 2 have been publicly reported: the Alexey Kosygin, along with the Pyotr Stolypin and Sergei Witte vessels.

Hanwha Ocean, previously known as Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, was contracted to construct six additional Arc7 tankers, including three for Sovcomflot and three for Japan’s Mitsui O.S.K. Lines.

However, the orders placed by Sovcomflot for the three tankers were annulled last year due to the sanctions, as confirmed by Hanwha in regulatory filings.