Icebreaking rescue vessel NB 508. Photo - Arctech Helsinki Shipyard.
The hull assembly of an icebreaking multipurpose emergency and rescue vessel for Russian Ministry of Transport started 28 June, 2013 at Arctech Helsinki Shipyard, said a press release.
The vessel will be used in icebreaking, rescue and oil combating operations in the Gulf of Finland.
The vessel being built at Helsinki shipyard represents a completely new technology. The vessel features an asymmetric hull, patented oblique design and three 360 degrees rotating propulsors, which allow the vessel to operate efficiently sideways, astern and ahead.
In oblique mode the vessel will be able to generate 50 meter wide channel in 0.6 meter thick ice.
Bow and stern first the vessel can operate in 1.0 meter thick ice. The design of the vessel is based on ARC 100 concept, which has been developed by Aker Arctic Technology for Arctech Helsinki Shipyard.
When the vessel is delivered, she will be used in the Gulf of Finland in icebreaking, rescue and oil combating operations. The advanced oil recovery system is suitable for operation also in heavy waves.
The vessel measures 76.4 meters in length and 20.5 meters in breadth. The three main diesel generator sets have a total power of 9 MW and the total propulsion power is 7.5 MW.
“Today at Arctech Helsinki Shipyard started the hull assembly of an innovative, new kind of icebreaking rescue vessel, which has drawn a lot of attention. The rescue vessel represents a totally new technology, which enables its versatile use in different kind of ice conditions. I believe that there will be use for such vessels also in Arctic areas”, comments the Arctech Helsinki Shipyard’s Managing Director, Esko Mustamäki.
The vessel is being built in co-operation with Kaliningrad based Shipyard Yantar, which has produced the blocks of the vessel. The design, hull assembly, outfitting and commissioning will be done by Arctech in Helsinki. The vessel will be delivered to the customer in spring 2014, the press release added.