Wismar based Nordic Yards have delivered the latest two in a series of high specification ice-breaking rescue and salvage vessels to the Russian Ministry of Transport.
Russia is currently in the process of building up a fleet of rescue and salvage vessels designated MPSV (06 and 07) projects and the latest two MPSV06s Beringov Proliv and Murman have been built under the federal special-purpose programme for the FSI Sea Rescue Service of Rosmorrechflot. They were named at Wismar recently in the presence of among others Russia’s Deputy Transport Minister Viktor Olerskiy.
With increasing interest in offshore energy in Arctic waters, investment in state sponsored support vessel of countries bordering the region is being viewed as asserting sovereignty as much as satisfying requirements of search and rescue provisions of Arctic Council treaties. A similar situation exists in Canadian Arctic waters and it is reported that the Canadian Coast Guard are comparing the MPSV06 with their own design considerations for their Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship Project.
These latest two follow delivery of first in this particular series, Spasatel Petr Gruzinskiy by Amur Shipbuilding in 2011 and both are classed by the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping with the notation KM*icebreaker 6/2 AUT1-ICS OMBO FF2WS DYNPOS-2 EPP Salvage ship. Main dimensions include: LOA 86m, breadth moulded 18.5m, depth 8.5m, draught 6m, 1,370dwt and a cargo hold capacity of 800m2.
ABB won the $25m contract to supply Azipod VI marine propulsion systems including twin 3.5MW fully-rotating thrusters with fixed-pitch propellers, main switchboards, drives, bow thrusters (two 1.4MW) and four diesel generators with a capacity of 10.6MW. Two AC motors provide total propulsive power of 7MW and maximum speed fully loaded of 15 knots.
The vessels have to fulfil an extensive list of operational requirements including: patrolling and emergency salvage duty in areas including fishing and oil and gas activity regions, search and rescue, rendering medical assistance, refloating grounded vessels, towage, salvage operations, ice-breaking, fire-fighting, diving operations up to 60m, pollution response, and surveying down to 1,000m. Two 32t lift knuckle-boom cranes and an 80t A-frame mounted crane are located aft. Berths are provided for 26 crew and 12 staff along with provision for 95 survivors. They clearly fulfil the ‘multi-purpose’ element of their designation.
Beringov Proliv will operate mainly in the Sakhalin region while the Murman will cover the north east passage around Murmansk. During the naming ceremony Dr Vitaly Yusufov, Chairman of the Management Board of Nordic Yards, stated: "Today we are naming two of the world’s most modern and specialised rescue vessels. With their high-tech equipment and performance capacities these ships are capable of fulfilling the highest requirements.” He added: “It was a demanding challenge to build these technologically complex ships, and today we are really proud to be able to present the results of our work."
By Peter Barker
