More newbuilds have RS class
This year, 59 vessels have been built to the class of Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS) and 123 newbuilds currently under construction on Russian yards will be classed to RS specifications, the classification society’s General Director Mikhail Aivazov said Wednesday at the meeting of the RS’ Scientific and Technical Council (STC).
According to Aivazov’s deputy Pavel Shikhov, who was also speaking at the STC meeting, there is a trend increasing the share of high-tech ships of the vessels being built at Russian shipyards to the RS class: icebreakers, gas carriers, offshore supply vessels, etc.
Of the newbuildings 70% have ice strengthened hulls, 70% are being built under the Russian flag, Shikhov said.
Pavel Shikhov has mentioned among the future projects sixteen Arc7 ice class LNG carriers of capacity of 170cbm for the Yamal LNG project (delivery time - 2016-2018), and the same project’s PSVs, a series of "3+3" ships to transport LNG from the Shtokman field, two LPG carriers scheduled for delivery in 2012, three mobile logistics ships for the Russian Navy.
There are also three diesel-electric icebreakers under construction, which have capacity of 16MW, and one of 25MW, a 60MW icebreaker, with an option for two vessels and one dual-acting icebreaker being built at Kaliningrad-based Yantar Shipyard. The DAS ship having beam of 20.5 m will be able to cut a 50m-wide channel in ice.
Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS) was established in 1913 and now is one of the leading classification societies of the world. Since 1969, the RS has been a member of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS). RS is recognized by the European Union, by maritime authorities of 70 states of flag. RS is an associate member of INTERTANKO and BIMCO INTERCARGO.
The RS activity is aimed at enhancing high standards of maritime safety and minimising the negative impact of human activities on the environment through scientifically based risk assessment and risk management procedures.