Krasnoye Sormovo launches fourth vessel of RST27 project VF Tanker-4
Krasnoye Sormovo (a shipbuilding asset of United Shipbuilding Corporation) held on May 18 an official launching ceremony for the VF Tanker-4 being built for the shipping company V.F. Tanker, the project designer Marine Engineering Bureau said.
The vessel is the fourth tanker in a portfolio of 20 product carriers booked by VBTH in line with a major fleet renewal program run by the holding, majority-owned by Universal Cargo Logistics Holding. Krasnoye Sormovo contracted to build 10 tankers of the project, expects to deliver all vessels of the series by the end of this year, ahead of schedule. 15 similar product carriers are being constructed at Navashino-based Okskaya Shipyard (member of UCL Holding), three tankers will be built by Ukraine’s Kherson Shipyard.
Just two days ago the shipbuilder and the customer have signed a certificate of acceptance of the VF Tanker-3.
The new tanker is the evolution of other MEB projects and features increased river function. The vessel deadweight was increased by 700 tons versus Armada series, with preserved cargo tanks capacity and enhanced hull's strength (vessel is of R2 sailing region, or II region due to old RS classification), MEB said.
The Project RST27 Volga-Don-max tankers with six cargo and two slop tanks are designed for mixed river-sea transportation of crude oil and petroleum products (two types of cargo), including gasoline, with no flash point limits (permanent temperature of 60º C). The double-sides and double-bottom hull ensures enhanced environmental safety. The RST27 project was developed by Odessa-based firm Marine Engineering Bureau to the class of Russian Maritime Register of Shipping KM Ice1 R2 AUT1-ICS OMBO VCS ECO-S Oil tanker (ESP).
The vessel’s main characteristics: sea / river DWT - 7022/5420 tons, LOA - 140.85 m, beam - 16.86 m, depth - 6 m, the volume of cargo tanks - 7828 cbm, of slop tanks - 280 cbm, of ballast tanks - 4650 cbm. Operational speed - 10 knots. Crew – 12. Accommodations – 14 (including a sanitary cabin and a pilot cabin). Endurance (in sea/river) – 20/12 days. The vessel is powered by two 1200kW Wartsila 6L20 main engines, fuel IFO380. Bow thruster – 292kW.The power plant consists of three diesel generators of 292 kW, plus an emergency diesel generator of 136 kW.
Like other mixed-sailing class vessels designed by MEB, the RST27 project tankers have full revolving rudder propellers, increased trunk and submersible cargo pumps. They have no longitudinal bulkhead in CL and no framing in cargo tanks.
JSC Krasnoye Sormovo Plant is one of the oldest Russian shipbuilding companies, founded back in 1849. All vessels built at Krasnoye Sormovo shipyard meet the requirements of MARPOL conventions, having the state-of-the-art equipment. MNP Group (Marine Oil & Gas Projects) engaged is the Company Manager of shipbuilding projects. The Group comprises shipbuilding and ship design companies based in Nizhny Novgorod - Krasnoye Sormovo Shipyard, Sormovskoe Engineering, Volgograd Special Engineering Plant, and the Volga-Caspian Design Bureau.
Nizhny Novgorod-based VF Tanker LLC, a shipping division of UCL Holding was founded in 2001 in conjunction with Volga Shipping Company. The Company operates more than 40 ships of total tonnage of more than 170,000 tons. VF Tanker specializes in shipping of oil products via inland waterways from refineries (Belaya and Kama rivers) to St. Petersburg and further by seagoing ships to the ports of destination.