Yesterday, the special tanker being built by Nordic Yards, manufacturer of technologically sophisticated and innovative special ships and maritime structures, for the Russian mining company Norilsk Nickel has left the dock in Wismar. The icebreaking Arctic Tanker “Nordic AT 19” was commissioned by Norilsk Nickel, one of the ten largest companies in Russia, in February 2010. Construction of the tanker began in July 2010. Next steps are the final completion of the machine room and superstructures before the ship is returned to the dock in the middle of July for the final work. The test voyage will take place in August 2011. The tanker will be delivered at the end of September 2011 and is to be used mainly on the northern Russian sea routes.
As soon as the “Nordic AT 19” leaves the dock today, Nordic Yards will execute a further order by Norilsk Nickel. In the dock hall a container ship operated by the Russian company is to be modernised from today until mid-July. This ship will be handed back to Norilsk Nickel on July 29, 2011.
“When a ship leaves the dock for the first time it is always a great moment,” says Vitaly Yusufov, owner and Managing Director of Nordic Yards. “Construction of one of the most technically sophisticated special tankers is being continued according to schedule. With this tanker Nordic Yards is again demonstrating its skills in the special shipbuilding sector for Arctic regions.”
Specialising in year-round deployment in Arctic waters, the ship of the “Nordic AT 19” type will be breaking ice, which is up to 1.50 m thick, at a speed of 2 knots. Its open water speed is 15.3 knots. The ship with the Arctic class ARC7 is designed in view of the climatic conditions for temperatures down to -50°C. The tanker is about 170 m long and has a beam of approximately 23 m. With a deadweight of around 19,000 t it offers a cargo tank capacity of more than 20,600 m³. The diesel electric machinery moves a gondola propeller that can revolve through 360°.
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Source: NordicYards, June 1, 2011.