Sredne-Nevsky Shipyard launches lead tug of 6-boat series for P.TransCo (photo)

On August 20, 2014, Sredne-Nevsky Shipyard OJSC (United Shipbuilding Corporation) launched the Cherepovetsky Metallurg, lead vessel in the series of six tugboats of Project 81 being built under the contract with P.TransCo LLC signed in February 2013, the shipyard says in its press release.

All six vessels are to be delivered in 2014. The project is financed by Gazprombankleasing LLC under leasing agreement.

The ship has the on-board coupling ARTICOUPLER KVC3545 manufactured by Taisei Engineering Consultant Inc. The pushers feature high maneuverability and controllability thanks to twin controllable-pitch screws and twin rudders.

The Project 81 push tug’s displacement is 365 tonnes, LOA - 25 m, breadth - 10 m. The vessel is designed to perform pushing or emergency towing of barges (project 82) with total displacement of about 5,200 tonnes at a speed of 10 knots. The vessel had been designed according to the requirements of Russian River Register to class М3.0 (ice 10) А.

OJSC Sredne-Nevsky Shipyard was created in 1912 as Ust-Izhorsky Shipyard. The shipyard has built over 500 warships and vessels of 43 designs for the Russian Navy and foreign customers. The company specializes in building warships and civil vessels manufactured of nonmagnetic steel, aluminum and fiberglass: corvettes, mine sweepers, coastal patrol boats, workboats and passenger vessels.