Korean shipyard Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) held a steel cutting ceremony for the third vessel ordered by Russian shipping company PAO Sovcomflot within the 42K Arctic Shuttle Tanker project.

The project comprises of a series of six oil tankers intended for oil transportation from Novoportovskoye field, situated in the north of Yamal peninsula, 30km off the Gulf of Ob coast.

The propulsion unit with two Azipod azimuth thrusters and a special hull shape will enable the ships to operate year-round in harsh Arctic conditions.

The ships are constructed to dual class, Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS) acting as the leading society.

The 42,000dwt tanker will feature 232m in length, 34m in breadth and 9.5m in draught.

Steel cutting and keel laying for all the six ships of the above series is scheduled to take place in 2015.