With climate change affecting the polar zones, the interest in ice class vessels continues to show growth and innovation. A noteworthy example of this was recently launched at Russia’s Nevsky Shipyard. Designated a Multipurpose, Shallow=draft, tug-salvage vessel, with Arc 5 ice class, (MPSV12) the new vessel will fitted out to provide a broad range of support roles.
The 79.85 by 17.36-meter has a 6.7-meter molded depth and a minimum draft of just 3.2 meters and a loaded draft of 4.5 meters. The boat will provide support to a wide range of maritime work including rescue work to general shipping, fishing vessels or oil and gas fields. The boat is fully outfitted for search and rescue evacuation as it has accommodation for up to 12 crew, 36 berths and 87 people. It can provide first aide to the injured. The vessel is also equipped for combating fires at sea. It carries a wide range of oil spill response equipment for clean-up. As a tug, it can tow damaged vessels to shelter in open waters or ice conditions.
This is one of four built to this design. Three were launched in 2016. The final vessel is being fitted out for a delivery in the coming months. In addition to SAR and salvage towing, the boats have the ability to supply offshore oil drilling and production sites. The have tankage for 200 cubic meters of domestic water and 550 cu.mt. of cargo water, 450 cu.mt. of domestic fuel and 400 cu.mt. of cargo fuel. They also have capacity for 130 cu.mt. of drill mud and 550 cu.mt. of drilling water.
On deck the vessel carries a double-drum towing winch with braking power of approximately 100 tons as well as a 60-on towing hook with a remote quick release. There is also a pedestal mounted 24-ton crane with a 20-meter boom. There is a ROV and dive support station for work up to 60-meter depths. The 430-square meter of cargo deck can also accommodate one-tier of containers.
For propulsion and maneuvering at sea the vessel has two ice-classed controllable pitch propellers in nozzles as well as two bow thrusters and a single stern thruster. Power for this and the rest of the huge complex of equipment and pumps on this boat comes from an impressive array of engines. A pair of Wartsila 2600 kW medium speed engines provides the main propulsion. The significant electrical requirements for the extensive array of equipment derives from a pair of Cummins K38-CP800DM5 generator sets each producing 800 kW of power at 50 Hz and 400 V. There is also a Cummins 6C-CS125DMS emergency genset.
The rescue tugs are being built for the Russian Rescue Agency. The vessels will operate in four different areas: theBahtemir in the Caspian Sea under the Astrakhan Rescue Branch, the Kalas in the Black Sea under the Novorossiysk Rescue Branch, the Beysug in the White Sea under the Archangelsk Rescue Branch, and the Piltun in the Japanese Sea under the Nakhodka Rescue Branch.
The Nevsky Shipyard specializes in both new-build vessels and repair. Located on the Volga-Baltic Waterway it has excellent access to Russia’s inland waterways and, via the Port of St. Petersburg, to the Baltic Sea. The shipyard carries certification from leading class societies including the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping, Russian River Register, Lloyds Register of Shipping, Bureau Veritas, Germanischer Lloyd and Det Norske Veritas.
