OREANDA-NEWS. November 01, 2011.MNP’s Krasnoye Sormovo Shipyard and Okskaya Shipyard have laid keels of a series of 6.900dwt products carriers of project RST27 ordered by Volga-Balt Tanker (a Volga Fleet Tanker subsidiary), UCLH said.

The contract for 5 newbuilds was signed between Krasnoye Sormovo and Volga-Balt-Tanker in June 2011. Three of them are scheduled for delivery in 2012, the next two - in 2013. Okskaya Shipyard (UCLH’s shipbuilding division) secured an order for 10 products carriers. The Project RST27 contract design was developed by Odessa-based Marine Engineering Bureau, the working draft – by Volga-Caspian Design Bureau (Nizhniy Novgorod).

In late October, VFT took delivery of the last serial tanker from Krasnoye Sormovo, the Mechanic Kharitonov. The shipbuilder executed the contract two months ahead of schedule. All new tankers will be put into service this year.

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.

Today the series tankers are one of the largest Russian river tankers. The newbuilds were ordered in line with a major fleet renewal program run by VBTH, a majority-owned group of companies by Universal Cargo Logistics Holding.

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) engaged 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.

Navashino-based Okskaya Shipyard (Nizhny Novgorod region) was founded in 1907. JSC Okskaya Shipyard was established through privatization of the state enterprise Navashino Shipyard “Oka”. The shipyard specializes in building of multipurpose river and sea-going vessels. In 2004, JSC Okskaya Shipyard became part of VBTH majority owned by Universal Cargo Logistics Holding.

VF Tanker LLC (Nizhny Novgorod) founded in 2001 is engaged in shipping of petroleum products via inland waterways of Russia. 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.

Dutch-registered Universal Cargo Logistics Holding (UCL Holding) is an international transport group comprising a number of shipping, shipbuilding, railway, logistics and stevedoring companies based in Russia. The Group owns terminals at Sea Port St.Petersburg and Universal Handling Complex in the North-West Russia, at southern ports of Tuapse and Taganrog. UCLH is a majority owner of Volga-Balt Transport Holding (VBTH).