News of our company

As for information of press-service of Volga Shipping Company, on the 2^nd of March, 2018 RSD44 dry cargo vessel "Kapitan Kanatov" departed to her first voyage in this year; this means start of 2018 navigation for the Volga Shipping Company (is included in UCL Holding). The vessel with 5200 t of grain onboard is sailing through the Don River from the port Rostov-on-Don to the Caucasus port. This yea, navigation of the Volga Shipping Company at the Southern basin started for the month earlier traditional terms.
 
According to new normative documents of the Russian River Registry, vessels of the mixed river-sea type of M-PR class may entered the Azov Sea including Kerch Straits from the 1st of March (last year they started work in this marine region from the 1st of April only).
 
Vessels of the Volga Volga Shipping Company that are involved in grain transportation were prepared for the early navigation start. 3 RSD44 dry cargo vessels and 3 Volgo-Don type dry cargo vessels are planned to be forwarded for work at this line at the beginning of March.
 
Start of navigation at the Upper Volga for the Volga Shipping Company is foreseen for April.
 
RSD44 dry cargo vessel "Kapitan Kanatov" was put into operation in the April of 2012.
 
Decision about vessels' naming in honour of captains of Volga Shipping Company that perished in the Stalingrad Battle was accepted in the year of the 65th Anniversary of Victory in The Great Patriotic War. In 2012 (year of the 70th Anniversary of the Stalingrad Battle) all 10 vessels named in honour of heroes (namely river captains) were already working for cargo transportation through rivers and lakes of Russia.
 
RSD44 vessels were built in 2011-2012 by Oka Shipyard in Navashino (Vladimir Kulikov is a general director).
 
Vessel's project (RSD44) was designed by Marine Engineering Bureau.
 
It should be noted that the RSD44 series (together with RST27 tanker series) set up a record not only for fast constructing but also for river deadweight (loading capacity is 5543 t for draught 3.60 m according to inclining test of the head vessel and weighting test of the second one) and for trial speed (average speed of the head vessel up and down the current was more than 12 knots).
 
Russian River Register class notation of the project is of M-PR 2,5 (Ice 20) A.
 
RSD44 new dry-cargo vessels of "Volga-Max" class (waterline length is of 138.9 m, breadth is of 16.5 m, depth is of 5 m, coamings height is of 2.20 m) are assigned for transportation of general, bulk, timber and saw timber, grain, coal, sulfur, paper, building materials, steel production, potash and mineral fertilizer, large-sized cargoes, and also up to 140 containers through internal water ways of Russian Federation.
 
Deadweight in river is about 5543 t with draught of 3.6 m, deadweight at sea is about 5562 t with draught of 3.53 m. Cargo hold capacity is of 7090 cub.m.
 
Operation of vessels is also provided through Volga-Don Shipping Canal (VDSC), Volga-Balt Canal, Azov Sea up to port of the Caucasus Port and in Gulf of Finland. Passage under Neva bridges in Saint-Petersburg region and under Rostov Railway bridge (Rostov-on-Don city) is supposed to be done without bridges drawing (maximal permissible air draught is of 5.4m for bridges' passing).
 
RSD44 vessels' dimensions (overall length of 139.99 m, overall breadth of 16.8 m) allow to provide operations through VDSC, including "old" branch of Kochetovsk lock without "special steering" procedures.
 
Double bottom and double sides which cover all length of "box-shaped" cargo holds (holds' sizes: hold N1 37.8 m x 13.2 m x 6.22 m, hold N2 49.8 m x 13.2 m x 6.22 m) and fuel oil, lubricating oil and drain tanks allow to provide convenience of cargo loading and unloading, high operational reliability of vessel, and also secure environmental protection and decrease of risks which are linked with environmental pollution in vessels' operation region.
 
Propulsion plant consists of two full-circle rudder propellers (FCRP). FCRP unite features of propulsion device and control means in single complex which allows significantly improve manoeuvring capabilities of vessel in restricted river conditions. Two 1200 kW medium-speed diesels which use heavy fuel oil are foreseen as main engines.
 
Vessels' hull form has been made as much as possible technologic to ensure low cost of hull works. Meanwhile hull form is rather sea-going and optimal for fuel economy for required work conditions at river class O-PR. Hull form provides cruising speed 10.5 kn.
 
For providing sufficient view of water surface from wheel house it is located at the fore end. Vessel's operation is carried out by side control panels while passing narrow waters and locking. These panels are mounted onto open deck of each side in deckhouse area.
 
Vessels are equipped with the 120 kW bow thruster of the "screw in a tube" type.
 
In connection with necessity to provide ability of passage under Neva bridges and Rostov Railway bridge without their drawing single-tier living deckhouse was foreseen in aft part of vessels.
 
All necessary conditions for comfortable crew staying onboard including developed system of climate-control, usage of non-vibrating and noise-protection indoor coverings are provided.
 
Crew consists of 8 persons. Block cabins are prepared for Master and Chief Engineer and single cabins are prepared for other crewmembers.
 
It is interesting to mark that total number of places is of 16 at the suggestion of OJSC Volga Shipping Company. It allows to take students, technical specialists, family members (wives) aboard. The last one can be serious preference while crew selection for work on new series vessels.
 
RSD44 vessel's deadweight with river draught of 3.6 m is higher on 7% than the deadweight of newest of exist "Volzhskiy" type vessels (05074M prj.).
 
Ballast air draught of proposed vessel is only of 5.4 m (and smaller for cargo loading condition). This allows RSD44 project vessel (unlike "Volzhskiy") to pass under Neva bridges and Rostov Railway bridge without their drawing. Consequently the vessel would not be waiting queue for bridges' drawing and would save up to 20 days for single navigation. In addition, the air draft of the vessel allows to be operated on the South port of the Moscow River, which was quite unthinkable for "Volzhskiy" and "Volga-Don" type vessels.
 
Cargo hold capacity of RSD44 vessels is for 21% higher than for "Volzhskiy" type. Mentioned allows to transport not only large-sized cargoes but and significantly increase loading during "light" cargoes transport - barley, seeds of sunflower, cotton, scrap cargoes, large diameter pipes and other goods.
 
When comparing RSD44 dry-cargo vessel with "Volzhskiy" type vessel one may conclude that while length and breadth are the same RSD44 depth is smaller for 8%. Subsequently RSD44 modulus is smaller for 8% than for "Volzhskiy" type. This will provide save up to 8% of summary expenses for port and navigation fees. Thus the RSD44 vessel is unique engineering complex which combines optimal for internal water ways dimensions and modern gears and navigational technical equipment and has significant advantages in comparison with existing analogs.
 
Vessels were built according to leasing scheme. In accordance with the scheme 85% of means is issued according to state support program of Russian shipbuilding and 15% of means is issued by OJSC "Volga Shipping Company". Scheme conditions is state backing of 2/3 rate of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation refinancing. Direct financing of the series building is realized by leasing Company "WEB-leasing".