Gas tanker Ob River attempts first winter Arctic crossing

BBC ^ | November 25, 2012 | Matt McGrath

[JerseyanExile]

A large tanker carrying liquified 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 shave 20 days off the journey.

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

Long-term preparation

Built in 2007 with a strengthened hull, the Ob River can carry up to 150,000 cubic metres 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. It has been accompanied by a Russian nuclear-powered icebreaker for much of its voyage.

"It's an extraordinarily interesting adventure," Tony Lauritzen, commercial director at Dynagas, told BBC News.

Mr Lauritzen says that a key factor in the decision to use the northern route was the recent scientific record on melting in the Arctic.

"We have studied lots of observation data - there is an observable trend that the ice conditions are becoming more and more favourable for transiting this route. You are able to reach a highly profitable market by saving 40% of the distance, that's 40% less fuel used as well."

But melting ice is not the only factor. A major element is the emergence of shale gas in the US.

The Norwegian LNG plant at Hammerfest was developed with exports to the US in mind. But the rapid uptake of shale in America has curbed the demand for imported gas.

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

[Darksheare]

If it gets hulled by ice, would it be blamed on global warming?

[Trueblackman]

You have to be a fool to be believe that crap, taking a ice breaker, filling it with natural gas and calling it a tanker is like take a skunk, putting a bow on it and calling it a smelly cat!

[markman46]

hope they are enjoying the well below zero weather

[Maine Mariner]

Fitted with an icebreaker bow and reinforced hull plating, the tanker Manhatten made a similar voyage across the North West passage in 1969. It was decided that such voyages were not economical so the Alaskan pipeline was built.
Eleven years later I worked as an A.B. (able bodied seaman) on the Mantatten. The captain sailed as a third mate on the 1969 voyage.

[sergeantdave]

“Eleven years later I worked as an A.B. (able bodied seaman) on the Mantatten.”

On your voyage, how many eskimos, penguins, polar bears, radish patches and Frenchmen did you count dead from global warming?

I’m writing a book on global warming and need more data for the chapter titled “How Moby Dick and the Terminator caused the Great 1930s Dust Bowl.”

Thanks for your input. ;-)

[Maine Mariner]

Well first I need to spell the name of the ship correctly,
Manhattan.
In 1980 we ran from Valdez to various west coast ports.
Of course gobal warming was not a big issue in 1980 but i did not see any deaths from global warming.

[ptsal]

THANKS....good comment.
:)

[TexasTransplant]

Always love an Adventure

TT

[sergeantdave]

Okay, I trust your testimony over my fabrication. Now, what did Moby Dick say to Captain Ahab over dinner?

[Aussiebabe]

Here is the current ice level at the Arctic..the ice has grown quite rapidly this year....hope they have a strong icebreaker. http://arctic.atmos.uiuc.edu/cryosphere/NEWIMAGES/arctic.seaice.color.000.png

[Aussiebabe]

p.s. ice levels currently in the Arctic are actually greater than in 2010. See link for graphs.
http://arctic-roos.org/observations/satellite-data/sea-ice/ice-area-and-extent-in-arctic

[garyb]

If indeed, this trip is to be concluded by “early December” then it is a Fall/Autumn crossing, rather than “Winter”:

Google sez: The astronomical winter (Northern Hemisphere) begins Friday, December 21, 2012, and ends Tuesday, March 19, 2013.