New gas tanker prepares to cross arctic waters

A large tanker carrying liquefied natural gas (LNG) is set to become the first ship of its type to sail across the Arctic. The carrier, Ob River, left Norway in November and has sailed north of Russia on its way to Japan. The specially equipped tanker is due to arrive in early December and will remove 20 days off the journey.

The owners say that changing climate conditions and a volatile gas market make the Arctic transit profitable.

Built in 2007 with a strengthened hull, the Ob River can carry up to 150,000 cubic meters of gas. The tanker was loaded with LNG at Hammerfest in the north of Norway on 7 November and set sail across the Barents Sea. A Russian nuclear-powered icebreaker for much of its voyage has accompanied it.

The ship, with an international crew of 40, has been chartered from its Greek owners Dynagas by the Russian Gazprom energy giant. It says it has been preparing for the trip for over a year.

Moreover, in Japan, in the wake of the Fukushima nuclear disaster, there has been a growing interest in alternative power sources, especially gas.

There is an expectation that because of changing climactic conditions, sea traffic across the northern sea route will increase rapidly. 2012 has been a record year both for the length of the sailing season and also for the amount of cargo that has been shipped.

아주경제 앤드류 이 기자=

Park Sae-jin swatchsjp@ajunews.com