Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Russia - March 30, 2017
1. Various of liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier, Christophe de Margerie at Sabetta Port
2. Various of guests at celebration to welcome arrival of Christophe de Margerie
3. SOUNDBITE(Russian) Sergei Zybko, captain of Christophe de Margerie:
"It's considered that after the [Yamal LNG] project is put into full operation, we'll need more vessels. It's not possible to build so many ice breakers. The vessels will have to sail independently. Basically, our vessel can sail westward along the Arctic Ocean all year round. If needed, we can also sail eastward for half a year without the need for ice-breaking."
4. Various of liquid natural gas plant
5. Various of LNG carrier Christophe de Margerie, crew members climbing onboard
6. Liquid natural gas plant
7. Various of LNG carrier Christophe de Margerie

An ice-breaking liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker became the first vessel of its kind to moor at north Russia's Sabetta Port on Thursday, paving the way for transporting oil and liquefied gas along Arctic routes.

The first Arc 7 ice-classed LNG carrier, the Christophe de Margerie, docked at the Sabetta Port at 15:00 on Thursday as it continues its maiden test voyage along the Northern Sea Route.

The vessel is one of the 15 LNG carriers designed for Russia's Yamal LNG project, one of the world's largest natural LNG development, liquefaction, transportation and sale projects.

The Christophe de Margerie is named after the late CEO of French oil corporation Total S.A., who died in a plane crash in Moscow two and a half years ago. The vessel can carry over 170,000 cubic meters of liquefied gas and is able to break through over 2 meters of ice. The ship's strong ice-breaking capabilities will allow liquefied natural gas from Russia to be sent to other countries along Arctic Ocean routes.

A celebration was held to welcome the mooring of the Christophe de Margerie. Russian President Vladimir Putin also expressed his congratulations via a video link and spoke highly of the project.

"It's considered that after the [Yamal LNG] project is put into full operation, we'll need more vessels. It's not possible to build so many ice breakers. The vessels will have to sail independently. Basically, our vessel can sail westward along the Arctic Ocean all year round. If needed, we can also sail eastward for half a year without the need for ice-breaking," said Sergei Zybko, captain of the Christophe de Margerie.

The project is currently owned by Russia's Novatek which controls a 50.1-percent share, and France's Total and the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNCP), each of which hold a share of 20 percent. The Silk Road Fund joined in the project in 2015, and holds a 9.9-percent share.

The entire project will cost around 27 billion U.S. dollars and will be finished in three phases. Once completed in 2019, the project's annual capacity will be 16.5 million tons.

So far, the first phase of construction is almost 90 percent complete and the project is expected to become operational by the end of the year.