Russia’s Zvezda Shipyard Delivers First Arctic Oil Tanker

After years of development, Russia’s Zvezda shipyard has successfully delivered its first Arctic-capable oil and LNG tanker. The 69,000 dwt Arc6 ice-class Panamax shuttle tanker, named Valentin Pikul, is now owned by Rosnefteflot JSC and is available for orders outside the Zvezda yard. This delivery marks a significant milestone in Russia’s efforts to enhance its maritime capabilities in Arctic waters.

Significance of the *Valentin Pikul* Delivery

The *Valentin Pikul* is designed to shuttle oil from the Varandey offshore loading system, the world’s northernmost continuously operating oil terminal located in the Pechora Sea, to the Murmansk transfer hub. This operation is crucial for maintaining Russia’s oil exports, especially in light of recent U.S. sanctions targeting Russian oil from Arctic projects like Varandey, Prirazlomnoye, and Novy Port. These sanctions aim to disrupt the flow of oil and include measures against the entire fleet of ice-capable tankers, including the newly launched *Valentin Pikul*.

Despite these challenges, Russia is expected to employ shadow fleet tactics to continue selling oil to international markets. However, the new sanctions have raised concerns among buyers about potential secondary sanctions for purchasing Russian oil. The *Valentin Pikul*, with its Arc6 ice class, can navigate through ice up to 1.5 meters thick without needing icebreaker assistance. Its double-acting design, featuring an icebreaking stern, allows it to operate effectively in harsh ice conditions.

The Zvezda shipyard, promoted by President Putin as a means to reduce reliance on South Korean shipyards for Arctic-capable vessels, is also constructing the world’s largest nuclear icebreaker. However, progress at Zvezda has been slow, with many vessels behind schedule and uncertainty looming due to the exit of Western companies from the project. The delivery of the *Valentin Pikul* took nearly seven years, with four years since its keel was laid in December 2020. Following this delivery, the shipyard may soon launch the first Arc7 LNG carrier, *Aleksey Kosygin*, pending successful completion of sea trials and procurement of necessary components.