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St. Petersburg-based Gazpromneft Shipping plans to begin carrying out deliveries of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in 2017, according to company representative Vasily Tkachenko.

Speaking at the 'Advanced port fleet- the basis of safety' conference in St. Petersburg yesterday (September 21), Tkachenko remarked that the first LNG bunkering operation would be carried out in the Baltic Sea Basin.

The company would begin by using one bunker tanker, with the number of LNG supply vessels being increased over time, said Tkachenko.

Gazpromneft Shipping predicts that the number of gas-powered ships will increase from 63 ships to 140 ships by 2017, and to 3,700 ships by 2030.

Gazpromneft Shipping was established in December 2008 in order to carry out the operational management of Gazpromneft Marine Bunker's own fleet.

The company supplies marine fuel and petroleum products, operating in key Russian sea and river ports located in North Europe, the Black Sea, Far East, as well as the Estonian port of Tallinn.

The vessels currently operating under Gazpromneft Shipping's management, according to the firm's website, are: Gazpromneft Zuid East, Gazpromneft Zuid West, Gazpromneft Omsk, Gazpromneft Nord East, Gazpromneft East, Gazpromneft West, Gazpromneft Nord, Gazpromneft Zuid, Gazpromneft Nord West.

Key clients include shareholder Gazpromneft Marine Bunker and its subsidiary Gazpromneft Terminal SPb. Other customers include third party marine fuel suppliers, fishing companies and exporters of petroleum products.