On February 25, 2015, Sredne-Nevsky Shipyard launched the forth in a series of six tugboats under construction for LLC P.Trans Co., the shipbuilder's press release said. The tug was named "Vega".
Initially, the complete six tugs package delivery was scheduled for 2014. The newbuilding project is financed by LLC Gazprombanklizing under the leasing scheme.
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 М3.0 (Ice 10) А Class.
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.
According to earlier reports, the Cherepovetsky Metallurg tugboat, lead vessel in the series, was laid down on March 12, 2013 and launched on August 20, 2014. Her delivery is scheduled for spring 2015.
OJSC Sredne-Nevsky Shipyard was created in 1912 as Ust-Izhorsky Shipyard. Throughout the years 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.