Russian oil major Rosneft plans to order reinforced ice-class shuttle tankers from the Zvezda Shipbuilding Complex currently under development.
Namely, Rosneft, Rosnefteflot and Zvezda Shipbuilding Complex signed today an agreement of intent that envisages placing orders with Zvezda Shipbuilding for shuttle tankers of Arc6-Arc7 ice class and 70,000 deadweight tons.
According to the agreement, the parties will jointly develop the technical documentation – the tanker specifications and determine the list of manufacturers of basic equipment.
The Russian-flagged shuttle tankers vessels will transport oil from Rosneft’s Arctic fields, the company said.
The number of the tankers will be specified after the development of technical documentation and definition of core technical characteristics of the fleet.
Furthermore, Rosneft teamed up with Rosmorport Federal State Unitary Enterprise to cooperate in placing orders for the construction of ice breakers with the draft of about 3 meters and 6.4 MW power and ice-class auxiliary vessels.
Following to the agreement, Rosmorport will place an order for construction of one shallow-draft ice breaker at the Zvezda Shipbuilding Complex with an option for three more.
The ice breakers will be used to escort vessels in Russian Federation ports and port approaches, including for the need of marine terminals operated by Rosneft.
The ice breaker construction would enable the shipyard to expand its product range and gain additional experience in building ice-breakers and ice-class vessels.
Zvezda Shipbuilding Complex is being created on the basis of the Zvezda Far Eastern Shipyard by a consortium comprising Rosneftegaz, Rosneft and Gazprombank.
The initial workload of the shipyard is secured by Rosneft, which signed an exclusive agreement with the shipyard on placing orders for new vessels and related marine equipment.