Working Conditions Aboard the Alexander

On October 22, 2018, the Gagarin Prospect, a crude oil tanker operated by Sovcomflot, triumphantly completed its inaugural commercial journey from Primorsk to Rotterdam. Transporting a substantial 104,815 tonnes of crude oil, this mission was made possible by her innovative use of LNG fuel, as confirmed in a press release from Sovcomflot. This voyage signifies a major milestone as it represents the Gagarin Prospect's first export delivery of Russian crude oil under a long-term time-charter agreement with Shell. Notably, the Gagarin Prospect holds the distinction of being the world’s premier Aframax tanker specifically engineered to use LNG as its primary fuel source. As the flagship of a new generation of eco-friendly tankers, it aims to elevate standards in navigation safety and operational quality. The shift to cleaner LNG fuel not only enhances the vessel's efficiency but also substantially lessens its environmental footprint, a crucial development for vessels traversing busy maritime routes like the Baltic and North Seas, where these environmentally-friendly 'Green Funnel' tankers are poised to operate.