Innovative multipurpose emergency and rescue vessel to be built for Russian Ministry of Transport

The result of a joint venture between STX Finland Oy and United Shipbuilding Corporation, Arctech Helsinki Shipyard, Finland, has been awarded a contract to build a multipurpose emergency and rescue vessel for the Russian Ministry of Transport. The contract, worth about EUR 76 millio ($101 million), has been awarded in conjunction with Shipyard Yantar JSC—one of the shipyards owned by United Shipbuilding Corporation.

The hull of the vessel will be built at Shipyard Yantar, while the outfitting and finalizing of the vessel will take place at Arctech Helsinki.

“This order re-confirms Arctech Helsinki Shipyard’s world class position in the design and production of the most advanced and sophisticated ice-breaking and arctic tonnage. This order is very important for Arctech as it is a completely new design and it will give us a good workload during 2012 and 2013,” says Esko Mustamäki, Managing Director of Arctech Helsinki Shipyard.

This new and unique multipurpose emergency and rescue icebreaker represents a completely new type of oil spill combat technology. Based on the ARC 100 concept design developed by Aker Arctic Technology, the vessel features a patented oblique design with asymmetric hull and three azimuthing propulsors, which allow the vessel to operate efficiently ahead, astern and obliquely. The vessel can proceed on a continuous mode in 1.0 m thick level ice both ahead and astern and in oblique mode it will be able to generate 50 m wide channel in 0.6 m level ice.

The 76.4 m x 20.5 m vessel will be used in icebreaking operations and sea towing of vessels and floating facilities and also features an advanced oil recovery system suitable for operation in heavy waves. The three main diesel generator sets have the total power of 9 MW. Total propulsion power is about 7 MW.

“Oil combat in ice conditions is one of the major challenges for the international oil industry. After many years of development work the oblique icebreaker concept represents a new approach for a solution,” says Mikko Niini, Managing Director of Aker Arctic.

Work on the project will begin immediately with delivery expected to take place in December 2013.