OREANDA-NEWS. November 23, 2012. On 19 November, 2012, Sovcomflot Group launched NS Energy – a Panamax ice class 1B bulk carrier.

 The new vessel (DWT 74,000 tonnes) was built at the Hyundai Mipo Dockyard in South Korea under the supervision of two classification societies: the Russian Maritime register of Shipping and the American Bureau of Shipping. This bulk carrier is intended for transporting cargos, such as: coal, grain, iron ore, potash, cement and non-toxic fertiliser.

NS Energy is the first of two bulk carriers ordered by SCF Group in summer 2010. The second vessel in the series – NS Yakutia – will join the SCF fleet in January 2013. OAO Novoship (part of SCF Group) is overseeing the construction of the vessels and will also be responsible for operating them once they are built.

Mr. Kostuk of Novoship addressed the guests at the commissioning ceremony with the following statement:

"Russia has rich coal reserves and coal production in our country is increasing. More and more coal is being extracted from the Kuznetsk Basin at coalfields in Eastern Siberia and the Far East. In the next decade, we expect to see an increase in the maritime transportation of this fuel and the development of bulk carrier terminals at Russian ports. Bearing in mind that Russia has no large bulk carrier companies capable of coping with the shipping needs of the national economy, in 2010 we took the decision to order a series of Panamax ice class 1B bulk carriers. These vessels are primarily intended for operations in the Baltic (the port of Ust-Luga) and the Far East (the port of Vanino). NS Energy will make its maiden voyage to Japan carrying a full cargo of coal from the port of Vanino, where SUEK has its own coal terminal." – Evgeniy Kostuk, First Vice-President, OAO Novoship.

Sovcomflot group and SUEK have established a long-term partnership: the bulk carrier SCF Suek has been chartered for the transportation of coal in the Far East. By commissioning modern bulk carriers like NS Energy and NS Yakutia, Sovcomflot is strengthening its positions in the maritime transportation sector.

Mr. Konovalov of Novoship described the technical specifics of the new series as follows:

"Besides being ice class, which allows these ships to operate in winter in the Baltic and other regions with similar climatic conditions, the bulk carriers NS Energy and NS Yakutia have also been classified as ENVIRO vessels, indicating a higher level of environmental protection and safety. These vessels have reinforced double hull and double bottom and a modernised fuel-supply system which ensures the failsafe operation of auxiliary electricity generators running on low velocity marine diesel oil. These new bulk carriers are also equipped with an approved ballast water management system in full accordance with the new D2 standards from the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments, which will soon come into force. Each cargo hold has been additionally fitted with an internal temperature control system, a gas analysis system, a CO2 fire-extinguishing system, and a hull stress monitoring system. We have also considered the comfort of the ship’s crew: the vessels have a sauna, swimming-pool, lift and additional laundries for the command personnel and other crew members." – Alexander Konovalov, Head of Shipbuilding, OAO Novoship.

The crew of NS Energy consists of 20 Russian seamen. Prior to the commissioning of the new vessel, the entire crew completed a specially designed preparatory course at the Novoship Training Centre. The ship’s captain Sergey Manukalo has many years of experience on vessels of this type.

"This vessel satisfies all the demands of modern shipping. It is equipped with quality hardware, has an impressive interior and exterior design, and provides the ideal working and recreational environment for its crew with a sauna, swimming-pool and gym. The company has selected a crew of professional seamen with previous experience on bulk carriers. For instance, I have personally worked with the ship’s chief engineer and first mate aboard the Novoship bulk carriers Sergey Lemeshev and Khudozhnik Moor, and know them well from previous operations. My career began in 1989. I worked as the fourth, third and second mate aboard the bulk carrier Boris Livanov and then as the first mate aboard the bulk carrier Sergey Lemeshev. Since 2003, I have been the captain of Khudozhnik Moor. Now we will adapt to work aboard the modern NS Energy. We are pleased that the SCF Group fleet has been expanded with the introduction of these new dry-cargo carriers." – Sergey Manukalo, Captain of NS Energy.