OREANDA-NEWS. December 22, 2010.  The Rybinsk-based Nobel Bros’ Shipyard Ltd. (Russia’s Yaroslavl region) held today a keel-laying ceremony of the lead vessel of a series of three 6,000dwt river-sea-going tankers of project RST-25. The ships will be operated by Moscow River Shipping Company, the MRSC’s press service said.

The ceremony was attended by Alexey Klyavin, the Director of Department of State Policy for Maritime and River Transport of the Russian Transport Ministry, MRS’ CEO Konstantin Anisimov, representatives of Rybinsk authorities and other guests.

Tankers will be built to a high class of environmental safety and automation. The first tanker delivery to the Customer is scheduled for 2012.

Previously, the MRS company entered into a leasing agreement with GazTekhLizing company for acquisition, operation and further purchase of the three tankers worth 1.5 billion rubles. Under the agreement, GazTekhLizing acquires the vessels from Nobel Bros’ Shipyard and turns them over to the shipping company in leasing.

The RST-25 project was designed by the Marine Engineering Bureau. The vessels dimensions allow passing through the Volga-Don Canal and Volga-Baltic waterway.

JSC Moscow River Shipping specializes in cargo shipments and transportation of passengers on the inland waterways of the Russian Federation. The shipping company operates a fleet of 150 cargo carriers and over 60 passenger ships.

Nobel Bros’ Shipyard Ltd. is experienced in building self-propelled oil tankers. This year, the company successfully built four salvage and boom-deploying boats of Project A-40-2B for the Federal Agency of Maritime and River Transport of the Russian Federation.