Still cargo-laden MV Neva-Leader 1 sets out on her maiden voyage
OJSC North-Western Shipping Company has started the operation of MV Neva-Leader 1, lead vessel of a series of dry bulk carriers of Project RSD49, the carrier’s news release said. On December 15, the ship laden with a cargo of rolled steel departed Kaliningrad and headed for a Belgium port.
The multipurpose Volga-Don max dry cargo ships of Project RSD49 with deadweight of 7,000 tons are the largest of the existing Russian ‘river-sea’ class dry bulk carriers. The vessels are designed for transportation of general and bulk cargoes, including steel, grain, timber, coal, oversized and heavy-lift and dangerous cargoes of classes 1.4S, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.1, 8, 9 by IC IMDG and Annex B of the BC Code in the Caspian Sea and the Mediterranean, Black Sea, Baltic, White and North seas, including sailings around Europe and in the Irish Sea during winter season.
Nevsky Shipyard is executing a contract for a series of ten self-propelled dry cargo ships of 7150DWT of Project RSD49 for North Western Shipping Company. Overall, the NW Shipping had ordered 12 vessels of RSD49 project. Two ships will be built at Astrakhan-based Lotus Shipyard. Two bulkers have been delivered to the Customer: the MV Neva-Leader 2 started operation in November. The vessels will be utilized for transportation of general and bulk cargo between the ports of the Baltic basin and the North Sea.
About North-Western Shipping
North-Western Shipping Company is the largest carrier in Russia’s water transport system, specializing in shipping import / export general cargo, bulk, suction and grab bulk cargoes, oversized cargo and vessels. The company’s fleet comprises about 105 cargo ships of total DWT 350,000 tons, including 83 mixed-sailing "river-sea” vessels, 8 barges, 8 tugs and 6 auxiliary ships. The NWS Company transports 6 million tons of different cargo a year. The Company is member of VBTH, a shipping division of UCL Holding, majority-owned by VBTH), consolidating a number of Russian rail, stevedoring and logistics assets. The division also includes Volga and Western Company, several cruise and shipbuilding assets.