BFC commissions tanker Mira built at Baltiiysky Shipyard
St. Petersburg-based Baltic Fuel Company (BFC Group) and Baltiysky Shipyard held an official solemn ceremony of signing an acceptance and commissioning certificate for the third tanker of a series of four non-self-propelled oil tankers of 2734 project. The ceremony was dedicated to the 156-anniversary of the shipbuilding enterprise. The vessel launched on April 27, 2012 was christened as Mira, the Group’s press release said.
In early June 2012 the ship will set sail on her maiden voyage on the Russian inland waterways.
The RUB 400 million turn-key contract for four tankers was signed between the shipbuilding firm and BFC in November 2010. The order is funded with participation of the Bank “Saint Petersburg”.
All tankers of the series were ordered by Baltic Fuel Company for the transportation of petroleum products on inland waterways of Russia. The first two tankers, the Taisiya (Thais) (launched on September 27, 2011) and the Maria (launched on December 29, 2011) started operating in early May, with opening of the 2012 river navigation.
The barges will be transporting oil products with vapor flash point of 60º C and above, including those requiring heating. Navigation area - inland waterways and marine areas for non-self propelled cargo vessels, where the thickness of broken ice does not exceed 20 cm. To enhance environmental safety the project tanker’s hull is reinforced with double bottom and double sides in the area of 12 cargo tanks of total volume of about 6,000 cbm. The barges will sail with assistance of pusher tugs, or towed by towboats as an option.
To enhance environmental safety the project tanker’s hull is reinforced with double bottom and double sides in the area of 12 cargo tanks of total volume of about 6,000 cbm.
Ship's main characteristics: length - 108.32 m, beam - 16.86 m, depth - 4.75 m, displacement - 6120 tons, light displacement - 1020 tons.
The vessels are being constructed under the supervision of the Russian River Register in accordance with modern standards, rules and regulations of commercial shipbuilding.
In the 2012 shipping season, BFC will deploy 6 tankers of total 30,000dwt on inland waterways for transportation of oil products. The company plans to carry by its own fleet at least 500,000 tons of the products. In the 2013 navigation season the Company is set to gain ground on the market of oil cargo shipping on inland waterways, expanding its tankers fleet.
Shipyard Baltiysky Zavod based in St. Petersburg is part of United Industrial Corporation (UIC) and one of the largest shipbuilding enterprises in Russia. The shipbuilding firm specializes in the construction of nuclear-powered or diesel icebreakers and ice-class vessels, large tonnage vessels for shipping various cargoes, warships, Ro-Ro, Ro-Pax vessels, products carriers, etc. The company manufactures a wide range of engineering products, power equipment.
St. Petersburg-headquartered Baltic Fuel Company was established in 2008 to manage bunkering companies of the holding. For over 10 years, the Group’s divisions have been engaged in oil products export, bunkering operations, provision of environmental services, etc. The company boasts one of the largest bunkering fleet in the North-West of Russia, which comprises 31 vessels. Baltic Fuel Company ranks among top 3 leaders in the market of bunkering services at the ports of St. Petersburg and Leningrad region and is one of the three major leading companies of Russia’s north-west region, which specialize in oil trucking.