The keel laying ceremony of the lead vessel of Arc7 LNG carriers was held at Zvezda SSK. “Sovcomflot” is the owner of the leading vessel.

Such LNG carriers are the one of the most technologically-difficult in construction of innovating vessels, each of which will have a cargo gross tonnage of over 172 thousand cubic meters and will be equipped with three unique PODs. These vessels are submitted for liquefied natural gas carriage and able to work in the arctic conditions. Their differential characteristic is having Mark III membrane type LNG storage system. Zvezda SSK became the first and as for now singular shipyard in Russia, which has worldwide license GTT – of French engineering company Gaztransport & Technigaz, expert in the development and licensing construction of the containment systems with cryogenic membranes used to transport and store liquefied gas. Obtaining a license was preceded by the audit of GTT Company that Zvezda SSK successfully passed off in February 2020, having produced mock-up of LNG tank in accordance with French Company requirements.

The construction of ARC7 LNG carriers is realized in the interests of project installation in production the “Arctic LNG-2” liquefied natural gas, in which Novatek is the main sponsor and cargo freighter. In December 2019 - January 2020   Zvezda SSK and the companies of the VEB.RF group concluded the contracts for the construction of five Arc7 LNG carriers in the interests of Novatek PJSC intended for the removal of cargo from  “Arctic LNG-2” plant, and for another 10 vessels - in July 2020. The length of vessel is 300 m, beam moulded – 48.8m, draught – 11.7 m, deadweight – 81,000 t.