OB RIVER

General information

Course/Position

Latest news

Northern Sea Route reduces LNG tanker bunker bill by 40%

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker OB River chartered by Russian gas company Gazprom is due to arrive in Japan soon, becoming the first ship of its kind to sail across the Northern Sea Route (NSR) and saving 40 percent on its bunker bill in the process, the BBC reports. The NSR, which can be navigated more easily than in past years because of the melting of Arctic ice, is a far shorter route than the standard path leading through the Suez Canal. "There is an observable trend that the ice conditions are becoming more and more favourable for transiting this route," said Tony Lauritzen, commercial director at Dynagas. "You are able to reach a highly profitable market by saving 40% of the distance, that's 40% less fuel used as well."

OB River completes voyage from Hammerfest to Japan on Northern Route

A large gas tanker ship is set to sail across the arctic from Europe to Japan, now possible with changing climate conditions, officials said. The Ob River, a large tanker carrying liquefied natural gas, left Norway Nov. 7 and has sailed north of Russia on its way to Japan, using an arctic route that will take 20 days off the regular journey and have it arrive in Japan in early December, the BBC reported Sunday. The retreating ice is opening up new sea routes from the Atlantic to the Pacific: the Northwest Passage above Canada and the Northeast Passage north of Russia. A Russian nuclear-powered icebreaker has been accompanying the OB River for much of its voyage, the first attempted arctic crossing for a tanker ship of its type.

First LNG carrier OB RIVER makes successful voyage along the NSR

Marshall Islands flagged gas carrier OB RIVER (shipowner - Greek company Lance Shipping SA) set out on her maiden voyage along the Northern Sea Route on October 8 and crossed the Arctic shortcut from the East to the West within eight days, Rosmorrechflot press release said. The tanker was escorted by Russian nuclear-powered icebreaker "50 Years of Victory". The Arc 4 ice class tanker (the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping classification) has deadweight - 84,682 tons, a length of 288 m, and breadth - 44 m. The OB RIVER laden with LNG cargo will be escorted by two nuclear-powered icebreakers on her way back along the NSR to a port in Southeast Asia.