Researchers to get five newbuilds
Russia is set to build five research vessels (RV). Three of them will be built for the Federal Agency for Fishery (Rosrybolovstvo) and a pair for the Ministry of Education and Science. To recover the newbuilds costs the Ministry plans to operate the duo as ice-class offshore supply vessels (OSV). The RV design for Rosrybolovstvo will be completed before the end of 2018.
Three and two more
Rosrybolovstvo plans to develop its own design for the three research vessels. The RV design is being developed by Rosrybolovstvo’s naval architecture and marine engineering affiliates, a source familiar with the matter told IAA PortNews. The source added the design and engineering will be financed through the Ministry of Industry and Trade funds under the state program. However, the funds for the construction of ships have not been earmarked as yet.
PortNews has learned that the first new RV for Rosrybolovstvo will be named Rostislav Alekseev. This will reportedly be the ship of the 7th generation and unrivaled throughout the world in terms of her outfitting. The ship design provides for an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), a UAV and a ROV, a helicopter for airborne prospecting of remunerative fish concentration, and a meteorological station. The vessel will also feature Azipod propulsion which will ensure accuracy of dynamic positioning and conducting research.
Petr Savchuk, deputy head of the Federal Agency for Fishery has told PortNews, the RV is supposed to be operated by different agencies and departments.
“Nowadays, ocean exploration could be more efficient if it is carried out in a few of research areas, not in fishery only,” Peter Savchuk says. “The inter-agency, inter-departmental approach is required with the involvement of the Academy of Sciences, the Ministry of Environment, envoronmentalists groups, technology specialists. All scientists can be brought together on the vessel for an expedition to carry out their programs. Their well-coordinated work will yield better results than separate research expeditions. For example, we have not yet learned how to process certain types of promising bio-resources, for example, mesopelagic fauna. Therefore, it may be required to apply various technologies simultaneously. The ship is very expensive and we should make maximum use of her”.
St. Petersburg based Severnaya Verf Shipyard is considered as a contractor of the research vessel project.
Concerning the Ministry of Education and Science RV duo, the government has earmarked funds for the vessels construction in the amount of RUB 28 billion, but both the vessels designer and the shipbuilding yard have not yet been picked for the order execution. The PA Sevmash could be one the yards for the project implementation.
The ships according to their capabilities could be operated as the Arctic OSVs, with research equipment in containers being placed on their cargo decks. According to the concept, this will ensure the vessels commercial payback by providing marine services for the offshore oil and gas fields in the Arctic. The capacity of each vessels should be 10.3 MW.
Vitaly Chernov
