North-Western Shipping Company OJSC has commenced operation of Neva-Leader 6, its new M/V built in July 2013. On October 30, 2013 the vessel embarked on her maiden voyage. Neva-Leader 6 left the berth Nevsky Shipyard (Shliesselburg) for the North West of Russia to deliver cargoes to European countries, the shipping company says.
In May-October 2013, first five Neva-Leader vessels were busy mainly with transporting equipment from Europe to the ports of Volga, Kama and Caspian Sea. They also delivered timber from Volga-Baltic ports to Scandinavia as well as grain from the ports of Azov Sea to Italy and Egypt.
In the nearest months, the vessels will be engaged in transportation of grain, metal and fertilizers between the ports of the North, Baltic, Black and Mediterranean Seas.
From November 2012 till October 2013, NWSC’s Neva-Leader 1, Neva-Leader 2, Neva-Leader 3, Neva-Leader 4 and Neva-Leader 5 carried over 220,000 t of cargo.
Currently, the RSD49 project vessels (with deadweight exceeding 7,000 t) are by far the largest dry cargo ships that satisfy the dimensions of Volga-Don Shipping Canal. As of October 30, 2013, the North-Western Shipping Company operates 5 vessels of Project RSD49.
All in all Nevsky Shipyard will build 10 vessels of this project under large-scale renovation of VBTH fleet.
North-Western Shipping Company is the largest carrier in Russia’s water transport system, specializing in shipping import / export general cargo, bulk and loose dry cargo, tugging of oversized cargo and vessels. The company’s fleet comprises about 105 cargo ships of total DWT 360,000 tonnes, including 84 mixed-sailing "river-sea” vessels, 6 barges, 7 tugs and 3 auxiliary ships. The NWS Company transports 6 million tonnes of different cargo a year.
The Company is a member of VBTH, a shipping division of UCL Holding (majority owner of VBTH), consolidating also a number of Russian rail, stevedoring and logistics assets. The division also includes Volga and Western Company, several cruise and shipbuilding companies.