News of our company

According to the message of press-service of "VF Tanker" Shipping Company wich is a part of the UCL Holding, overall cargo capacity transported by the company (including 25 new RST27 and RST54 tankers) in the period of navigation from April to November 2016, was of 2.9 million tons. In total 45 tankers and 11 tug- barge trains were used by the company for inland cargo transportation from April to November 2016. RST27 and RST54 vessel amounted 56% of self-propelled fleet of "BF Tanker" Company.
 
2.5 million tons of cargo (+21% comparing with 2015) was transported through RF United Deep-Water System. About 0.4 million tons of cargo transported by international routes including regions of Azov, Black, Mediterranean, Baltic and North Seas and North-East part of Atlantic Ocean. The main factors of inland transportation increase during this year navigation are: better hydrological conditions for shipping comparing with last years and as a result, reduction of passage time for limited water areas.
 
77% of transporation was occupied by oil cargo export from Russian river ports to port-roads transshipment complexes of the southern basin, 23% was occupied by north-west basins' direction. Liquid bitumen, mazout, vacuum gasoil (VGO) and diesel oil occupied more then 70% in transportation structure. Considering the actual way conditions, the company managed to maximize the transportation capacity by applying optimal operation of a wide range of vessels under management, through the usage of both direct transportation and transportations with intermediate cargo transshipment.
 
1.8 million tons of cargo (72% of transportation) were carried by direct transportations between Ruissan river and marine ports during the navigation period. 1.4 million tons of this amount (or 78%) was carried by RST27 and 19614 tankers; RST54 and 05074T vessels carried 380 thosand tons (or 21%). 0.7 million tons of oil products were transported at voyages of intermediate cargo transshipment.
 
RST27 and RST54 projects are designed by Marine Engineering Bureau.
 
In 2012 and 2013 Britain Royal Institution of Naval Architects included RST27 in the list of Significant Ships twice. In 2014 also RST54 platform tanker was included in the Significant Ships list.
 
Series of RST27 tankers with increased block coficient are the biggest in new history(since 1991) of Russian shipbuilding - for the period since 2012 35 vessel were built and accepted for operation, 22 of them(63%) are under control of shipping company "BF Tanker".
 
RST27 vessels have the record block coefficient 0.93, but the head vessel showed speed of 11.7 kn during trials at running line with main engines power of 2100 kW (87.5% of full output) and fore/aft draughts 3.2/3.3 m.
 
Thus the contract deadweight of 6980/5378 is increased for 42 t, contract speed is increased more than 1 kn.
 
New project tanker has increased river function comparing with other MEB projects. River deadweight of RST27 vessels is increased for 732 t comparing to Armadas, while:
 
• increased hull's strength (vessel is of R2 sailing region, or II region due to old RS classification);
• practically keeping the same fuel consumption;
• keeping increase capacity of cargo tanks.
 
Russian Maritime Registry of Shipping class notation is KM Ice1 R2 AUT1-ICS OMBO VCS ECO-S Oil tanker (ESP).
 
As other river-sea going MEB tankers, RST27 vessels use full-circle rudder propellers as single movement and manoeuvre unit. They have increased trunk and use submersible cargo pumps. They have no longitudinal bulkhead in CL and no framing in cargo tanks.
 
RST27 vessels satisfy dimensions of the Volga-Don Canal and Volga-Baltic Way. Overall RST27 vessel's length is of 140.85 m, breadth is of 16.6 m, depth is of 6.0 m. They belong to "Volgo-Don Max" class.
 
Special requirements of the Russian and world petroleum companies, additional ecological RS limitations of "ECO PROJECT" (ECO-S) class were taken into consideration during designing.
 
RST27 vessels are assigned for transportation of crude oil and oil products, without flash point restrictions.
 
Total capacity of six cargo tanks and two slop ones is of 8100 cub. m, deadweight is about 7022 tons with sea draught of 4.20 m. Deadweight is about 5420 tons with river draught of 3.60 m. Cruising speed is of 11.0 knots.
 
Cargo system provides simultaneously transportation of 2 cargoes. Cargo pumps capacity is 6 x 200 cub. m/hour. Two auxiliary steam boilers (capacity 2.5 t/hour each) are installed onboard.
 
Two medium-speed diesels (main engine) of 1200 kW each use heavy fuel oil with viscosity IFO380.
 
There is 230 kW bow thruster.
 
Electrical plant consists of three 292 kW diesel-generators and emergency-staying 136 kW diesel-generator.
 
Crew consists of 12 persons (14 places + pilot).
 
Autonomy is of 20/12 days (sea/river).
 
Project of river combined dry cargo open-deck ship / tanker RST54 with deadweight 5745 tons for cargo transportations on open-deck, not afraid of wetting (gravel, rolling, containers, cars, etc.), in one direction and the oil cargo in the reverse direction, it is designed in "overcomplete" tanker counters of prj RST27.
 
According to the inclining test results of the head series' vessel, her river deadweight is 5745 t at draught 3.60 m. This is a record value for "Volgo-Don Max" vessels.
 
The character feature of the new concepts is "expanding" narrow places of inland water transport by using new technical decisions. Saying in other words, transportation ability is increased by maximal usage of actual way characteristics (maximal available vessel's length and breadth), and mainly by usage extremely fat hull contours, that have never used before in world's practice. Usage of RST54 combined vessels provides both directions cargo transportation (oil cargoes towards one direction and dry cargoes towards back direction); that should allow decrease highways rate due to re-forwarding some cargoes from road to water transportation. Such re-forwarded cargoes include passenger cars, that usually are brought from St.-Petersburg to central Russia by car transportation trucks and heavy containers that are prohibited for car trains transportation due to unallowable road loads.
 
RRR class notation is of M-PR2.5 (ice30) A.
 
As other mixed river-sea going tankers designed by marine Engineering Bureau, RST27 vessels use full-turn rudder propellers as single movement and manoeuvre unit.
 
RST27 vessels satisfy Volga-Don Canal dimensions such as Volgo-Balt Way ones. Vessel's overall length is of 140.85 m, breadth is of 16.60 m, depth is of 6.00 m. She belongs to the "Volgo-Don Max" class.
 
Tanker cargoes with flashpoint restriction for 60°C is provided in 10 cargo tanks (total capacity of 5446 cub.m.) and 2 slop tanks (total capacity of 207 cub.m.). All cargo tanks are separated from outer shell by double sides and double bottom. Dimensions of double constructions meet requirements of International MARPOL 73/78 Convention.
 
Cargo system provides closed cargo receiving by shore equipment and cargo discharge by vessel's submersible pumps. Manifolds provide cargo intake and discharge by both sides; they are arranged in the middle and aft parts of the cargo area. Transitional connectors are foreseen in the vessel's supply in order to provide manifolds' coupling with different diameters hoses. Maximal loading capacity for each cargo or slop tank is of 600 cub.m/hour. Summarizes loading capacity for the whole vessel is of 1200 cub.m/hour.
 
Heating system is served by two steam boilers (capacity of 2.5 t/hour); it provides cargo temperature keeping at level +60°C (when temperature of outboard air is not less than -10°C) and cargo heating from 50°C till 60°C during 36 hours.
 
Cargo area on the upper deck with 2 m barrier is intended for transportation of cargo that doesn't suffer from wetting (e.g. gravel, rolled metal, heavy containers, cars, etc.). Main deck shell within cargo area is designed for loading 5.5 t/sq.m and for grabs working. Main loading condition is 4700 t of gravel transportation on the open deck.
 
2-tier containers transportation is foreseen on the main deck; containers are installed on dunnage. Heavy 36 t TEU (120 pcs.) may be transported; these containers cannot be handled by car trains. Vessel's electric station provides ability to transport 45 refrigerator containers.
 
There is possibility to arrange special removing constructions that can be transformed into 2 additional car decks. Cars loading/unloading are carried out by their own through coastal ramps. Number of transported cars depends on their maximal dimensions (270-350 ones).
 
Two medium-speed diesels of 1200 kW each are used as main engines; they use heavy fuel oil with viscosity of IFO380. There is 230 kW bow thruster.
 
Speed (due to the draught of 3.6 m and 85% of ME power) is 11.0 kn.
 
Electrical plant consists of three 292 kW diesel-generators and emergency-staying 136 kW diesel-generator.
 
Crew consists of 12 persons (14 places + pilot).
 
Vessel's autonomy is of 20 days (due to fuel, water and provision reserves).