Reviews & Ratings for the Valera

On December 8, 2025, the tanker 'Valera' made headlines by docking at the Beihai LNG Terminal, having transported liquefied natural gas (LNG) sanctioned by the U.S. from Gazprom’s Portovaya LNG plant. This event stands out as the first official delivery to China from the blacklisted facility, which has been under U.S. sanctions since January 2025. The arrival of 'Valera' not only underscores Beihai's increasing significance as a hub for sanctioned Russian LNG but also reflects China's evolving stance on energy imports. Since August, the terminal has seen nearly 20 shipments originating from sanctioned sources, including the Arctic LNG 2 project, demonstrating its capacity to facilitate controversial energy transfers. As of now, several more cargoes are on the way to the terminal. The journey of 'Valera' began on October 25 from a terminal in the Baltic Sea, with the vessel itself facing sanctions from both the U.S. and the UK due to its role in Russia’s clandestine energy shipping operations. In contrast to other Russian-controlled tankers that have recently resumed transit through the Suez Canal, 'Valera' opted for a longer voyage around the Cape of Good Hope to reach Beihai. Notably, this delivery signifies China's first public receipt of LNG from the sanctioned Portovaya plant. A prior attempt in October involved a ship-to-ship transfer offshore Malaysia, but remained shrouded in uncertainty about its actual location. What's remarkable about 'Valera' is its adherence to broadcasting continuous AIS signals during its journey, setting it apart from other vessels known for using AIS spoofing to obscure their origins. This move towards transparency hints at a notable shift in China's willingness to engage with Russian energy products despite international sanctions, indicating a possible long-term commitment to further energy collaboration with Russia.

Sovcomflot, the leading maritime shipping company in Russia, has proudly announced the addition of its newest LNG carrier, named 'Velikiy Novgorod.' The delivery was made by STX Offshore & Shipbuilding in South Korea. This state-of-the-art vessel is outfitted with an advanced diesel-electric, dual-fuel propulsion system that features a pair of MAN 8L51/60DF engines and two MAN 9L51/60DF engines, collectively providing an impressive total power output of 34 MW. These engines were manufactured at the MAN Diesel & Turbo facility in Augsburg, Germany. Designed to navigate through challenging sea ice conditions, the Velikiy Novgorod boasts an Arctic ice classification and is specifically engineered for enhanced performance in icy waters. The vessel measures 300 meters in length and has the capacity to hold 170,200 cubic metres of gas. Notably, this is the first of a new series of LNG carriers being constructed by STX Offshore & Shipbuilding and marks the fifth addition to Gazprom's fleet of long-term-chartered LNG tankers.