OREANDA-NEWS. September 27, 2011. The launching and naming ceremony was held today, Sept. 27 at Baltic Shipyard for a lead vessel of a series of four non-self steering tankers of Project 2734.

The newbuilds contract was signed in November 2010 between the shipbuilding firm and Baltic Fuel Company Group (BFC). The Group’s investment in the contract has totaled some RUB 400 million. The order is financed with participation of the Bank “Saint Petersburg”.

The Project 2734 vessels were designed at Marine Engineering Bureau. The barges will be transporting petroleum products with vapor flash point of 60º C and above, including those requiring heating. Navigation area - inland waterways and marine areas for non-self propelled cargo vessels, where the thickness of broken ice does not exceed 20 cm. To enhance environmental safety the project tanker’s hull is reinforced with double bottom and double sides in the area of 12 cargo tanks of total volume of about 6,000 cbm. The barges will sail with assistance of pusher tugs, or towed by towboats as an option.

The vessels are being constructed under the supervision of the Russian River Register in accordance with modern standards, rules and regulations of commercial shipbuilding.

The vessel main characteristics: length - 108.32 m, beam - 16.86 m, hull height - 4.75 m, displacement 6120 tons, light displacement - 1020 tons.

Another three vessels of the series will be launched by the end of this year. The project was developed to satisfy the Customer’s requirements, according to the latest innovations and internationally approved standards of shipbuilding.

Baltic Shipyard (St. Petersburg, part of United Industrial Corporation, UIC) is one of the largest shipbuilding enterprises in Russia. The company specializes in the construction of nuclear-powered or diesel icebreakers and ice-class vessels, large tonnage vessels for shipping various cargoes, warships, Ro-Ro, Ro-Pax vessels, products carriers, etc. The company manufactures a wide range of engineering products, power equipment. It is also a supplier of ferrous and steel castings.

St. Petersburg-headquartered Baltic Fuel Company was established in 2008 to manage bunkering companies of the holding. For over 10 years, the Group’s divisions have been engaged in oil products exports, bunkering operations, provision of environmental services, etc. Currently, the Group operates a bunkering fleet of 31 vessels in the North-West Russia. Baltic Fuel Company ranks among top 3 leaders in the market of bunkering services at the ports of St. Petersburg and Leningrad region.