RSD-44 bulk carriers designed for transportation of bulk cargo, general cargo and containers will gradually replace the existing Volga-Don series vessels. The new ships feature higher performance, environmental friendliness, efficiency and comfort. The project RSD44 bulk carriers can carry 5,500 tons of cargo, 500 tons more than former Volga-Don vessels. LOA of new ships is 8 meters (nearly half of that of the old ones). This will allow them to pass under the bridges of St. Petersburg and Rostov, without their opening.
The series lead ship the Captain Ruzmankin was launched at Okskaya Shipyard in November 2010. Five new vessels are scheduled for delivery in December 2011. Overall, the newbuildings order includes 10 self-propelled river vessels.
The RSD-44 project is financed through the leasing scheme of state support of domestic shipbuilding: co-financing by the state-run United Shipbuilding Corporation (85%) and the future shipowner - Volga Shipping" (15%) on the terms of state subsidy of refinancing interest rate of Central Bank of Russia.
Navashino-based Okskaya Shipyard (Nizhny Novgorod region) was founded in 1907. JSC Okskaya Shipyard was established through privatization of the state enterprise Navashino Shipyard “Oka”. The shipyard specializes in building of multipurpose river and sea-going vessels. In 2004, JSC Okskaya Shipyard became part of VBTH majority owned by Universal Cargo Logistics Holding.
JSC Volga Shipping Company, founded in 1843, is one of the oldest and largest shipping companies in Russia. VSC specializes in transportation of cargo and passengers on inland waterways of the country. In the period from April 1 through December 1, 2010, the shipping company’s 188 cargo ships carried 5,5 million tons of cargo, a 21-percent increase year-over-year. The company owns and operates the fleet of 250 cargo and passenger vessels. Volga Shipping Company is part of the Universal Cargo Logistics Holding that consolidates a number of Russian stevedoring, shipping and shipbuilding assets.