News of our company

On February 24, 2010 keel of the lead dry-cargo vessel of RSD44 project ("Volga-Max" class) with deadweight of about 5440 tons in river was laid down on Oka Shipyard (Vladimir Kulikov is a director).
 
It is supposed to build 10 vessels of RSD44 project in series on first stage. These vessels are assigned to replace basic of today dry-cargo river fleet, i.e. vessels of "Volga-Don" and "Volzhskiy" types.
 
The series is building for OJSC "Volga Shipping Company" (Alexander Shishkin is a director). Management company "Management of Transport Assets", North-West Steamship Company, Volga Shipping Company, Marine Ports of St.-Petersburg, Tuapse and Taganrog, VF Tanker, Oka Shipyard, Nevsky Shipbuilding and Repairing Yard and some other assets are included in Universal Cargo Logistics Holding.
 
Financing of the series building is realized by leasing Company "WEB-leasing".
 
Vessel's project (RSD44) is designed by the Marine Engineering Bureau.
 
Russian River Register class notation of the project is of O-PR 2,0 (Ice 20) A.
 
RSD44 prj. 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 2.2 m) are assigned for transportation of general, bulk, timber and saw timber, grain, coal, sulfur, paper, building materials, metal 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 5440 t with draught of 3.6 m, deadweight at sea is about 5460 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, Sea of Azov up to port of the Caucasus 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 prj. 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 kWt medium-speed diesels which use heavy fuel oil are foreseen onboard vessel.
 
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 knots.
 
For providing sufficient view of water surface from wheel house it is located in the fore end.
 
Vessels are equipped with the 120 kWt capacity bow thruster of the "screw in a tube" type for free passing narrow parts of rivers with small turning radius.
 
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 stay of crew aboard including developed system of climate-control, usage of non-vibrating and noise-protection indoor coverings are provided.
 
Crew consists of 9 persons. Block-cabins are prepared for Master and Chief Engineer and single cabins are prepared for other crewmembers.
 
Market demand on transport services of internal water transport would not be satisfied in the nearest 5-10 years due to fast age hardening and prospect of fleet retirement. Railway also would not be able to satisfy the growth of transport market demands because even now railway exceeds the maximum available transportation capacity. Problem of river dry-cargo fleet renovation by building new river "Volga-Max" class vessels becomes very important due to above mentioned. Existing vessels of "Volga-Don" and "Volzhskiy" types are to be changed (there are 161 such vessels in internal water ways of Russia with the mean age of 37 years for 507B prj., 33 years for 1565 prj., 22 years for 05074M prj.).
 
RSD44 project vessel's deadweight with river draught of 3.6 m is higher on 6% than the deadweight of newest of exist "Volzhskiy" type vessels.
 
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 one navigation.
 
Cargo hold capacity of RSD44 project 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 project 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 charges.
 
Thus the vessel of RSD44 project (the series is building at Oka Shipyard) corresponds unique engineering complex which combines optimal for internal water ways dimensions and modern gear and navigational technical equipment and has significant advantages in comparison with existing analogs.