OREANDA-NEWS. October 4, 2011. MNP Group’s Krasnoye Sormovo Shipyard and Volga-Balt Tanker (a Volga-Fleet Tanker subsidiary, part of UCLH) have signed a new contract for the construction of five products carriers of project RST27, MNP Group said Tuesday.

The first contract for 5 newbuilds was signed in June 2011. Three tankers are scheduled for delivery in 2012, the next two - in 2013. The first tanker’s keel was laid this August.

"Currently, Krasnoye Sormovo’s order book for 2012-2013 is nearly completed. Now the shipyard has secured contracts for 10 vessels and is negotiating with other potential customers," says MNP Group’s CEO Vadim Malov. Now the shipyard is building 10 vessels a year, but is able to construct more, Malov said.

The RST27 project was developed by Odessa-based firm Marine Engineering Bureau to the class of Russian Maritime Register of Shipping KM Ice1 R2 AUT1-ICS OMBO VCS ECO-S Oil tanker (ESP). The working draft prepared by the Volga-Caspian Design Bureau (Nizhniy Novgorod).

The Volga-Don max tankers with six cargo and two slop tanks are designed for mixed river-sea transportation of crude oil and petroleum products (two types of cargo), including gasoline, with no flash point limits (permanent temperature of 60º C). The double-sides and double-bottom hull ensures enhanced environmental safety.

The vessel has 5378dwt at 3.6m draft in fresh water and 6980dwt at 4.2m draft in salt water. The RST27 project ship’s dimensions satisfy the Volga-Don Canal and Volga-Baltic canals. LOA - 140.85 m, beam - 16.86 m, depth - 6 m, the volume of cargo tanks - 7828 cbm, of slop tanks - 280 cbm, of ballast tanks - 4650 cbm. Operational speed - 10 knots. Crew – 12., 14 accommodations, including a sanitary cabin and a pilot cabin. The vessel is powered by two 1200kW Wartsila 6L20 main engines.

Krasnoye Sormovo Plant is one of the oldest Russian shipbuilding companies, founded back in 1849. All vessels built at Krasnoye Sormovo shipyard meet the requirements of MARPOL conventions, having the state-of-the-art equipment.

MNP Group (Marine Oil & Gas Projects) is the Company Manager of shipbuilding projects. The Group comprises shipbuilding and ship design companies based in Nizhny Novgorod - Krasnoye Sormovo Shipyard, Sormovskoe Engineering, Volgograd Special Engineering Plant, and the Volga-Caspian Design Bureau.

VF Tanker LLC (Nizhny Novgorod) is engaged in shipping of petroleum products via inland waterways. Volga Fleet Tanker operates more than 40 ships of total tonnage of more than 170,000 tons. The company’s fleet transports petroleum products from refineries on the rivers of Belaya and Kama to St. Petersburg and further by seagoing ships to the ports of destination.