Sovcomflot receives new LNG carrier

Russian shipowner Sovcomflot has taken receipt of its newbuild 174,000m³ SCF Timmerman LNG carrier, which is set to start a term charter with Shell.

The carrier was delivered from South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries (HSHI) today, Sovcomflot said, and is the last of three LNG tankers that were ordered from the shipbuilder in 2018.

Sovcomflot signed a term charter with Shell for the carrier, as well as the 174,000m³ SCF Barents, which was delivered from HSHI in mid-September last year. The first of the three carriers — the 174,000m³ SCF La Perouse — was delivered in February last year and is under a term charter with Total.

But the SCF Timmerman was expected for delivery by late December and appears to have been delayed in November to mid-January.

The delivery closes Sovcomflot's near-term orderbook, but the firm has three Arc 7 ice-class carriers scheduled for delivery in February, as well as a further 14 ordered under its joint venture with Russian producer Novatek for delivery in 2023-25.

Seven newbuild LNG carriers have already been delivered this year, in addition to the SCF Timmerman. A further 12 are slated to be delivered in the remainder of the first quarter.

By Samuel Good