News of our company

According to the press-service of Volga Shipping Company, part of the transportation by RSD44 dry-cargo vessels has increased in 2015: 10 new generation vessels carried out about 40% of all export company's transportations during 2015 navigation. They transported 1/3 million tons of cargo (grain, coal, Sulphur), that is by 23% bigger than for previous year. First five-year RSD44 working period shows full accordance of the new fleet payback rates to the planned rates.
 
In 2015 the whole fleet of the Volga Shipping Company transported 5.6 million tons of cargo; that is by 11% less than for previous year. The turnover was 5.3 milliard tkm (-28%).
 
The main reason of company's activity rates worsening for the second year after previous one is abnormal low-water at the RF inland waterways. Water depth problem for the Don River has added to the low-water problem of the Volga River (near Gorodets and Balakhna) in 2015. Restrictions for the vessels' draught were kept during the whole navigation when passing Gorodets sluices; in particular, this forwarded to decreasing of steel and building materials transportation.
 
Losses of the Volga Shipping Company reach more than 1 milliard of rubles, 3 time more than in 2014 navigation. It took place due to routes' changing, vessels' underloading and demurrage for waiting of lock passing in the conditions of the abnormal low-water.
 
Besides, activity results were suffered from cargo flows changing that was caused by hard economic conditions and shipowners' problems. For example, export transportation of steel, Sulphur and fertilizers was decreased due to alternations of market and logistic.
 
In order to provide effective work, Volga Shipping Company effected cargo vessels' relocation from the central Russian regions to the southern ones second year after previous year. Vessels were used for transportation of high-rated cargoes; exactly this activity let the company to get financial profit despite of decreasing of operational indices. During 2015 navigation total amount of 3.2 million tons of export cargo was transported, by 19% less than in previous year. Inner cargo transportation decreased by 3% up to 2.4 million tons.
 
Dominancy of export transportation in the whole transport field has took place last year and is kept in this year too. Relation of export and inner transportations reaches 58% and 42% correspondingly (64% and 36% in 2014).
 
Main cargo flows of 2015 are as follows: export grain transportation from ports of Rostov Region and Krasnodar Area towards Caucasus port and inner transportation of crushed stone from stone pits of Karelia. Amount of grain transportation increased by 80% up to 2 million tons. Fleet of Volga Shipping company transported 1.1 million tons of crushed stone; this is 2 times bigger than in 2014.
 
Activity towards optimization of management and ship-repairing processes has been continued in the company. Decision about closing of Zvenigorod and Gorodetsk bases of fleet technical maintenance was accepted. Simultaneously Bor and Volga bases were enlarged. This moment about 70% of the whole Volga shipping Company fleet is placed at the Bor Base and BorRemFlot Shipyard; other 30% are placed at the Volga Base. Number of sailors and shore staff was set in accordance with demands and plans.
 
87 motor cargo and towing vessels and 73 non-self-propelled crafts of the Volga Shipping Company were operated During 2015 navigation.
 
Series' head vessel "Kapitan Ruzmankin" was launched in November 2010, the 10th one "Kapitan Kanatov" was launched in January 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 – 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".