The Russian flag was raised on the country’s first dual-fuel truck and train ferry “Marshal Rokossovsky” in the port of Ust-Luga in a solemn ceremony. RF President Vladimir Putin took part via videoconference in the ceremony.
RF Minister of transport Vitaly Saveliev and Russian Railways Chairman and CEO Oleg Belozerov and Kaliningrad Region Governor Anton Alikhanov also joined the ceremony via videoconference, while Rosmorport General Director Sergei Pylin and Deputy Director for fleet management Vasily Strugov, and Alexander Vangonen, master of the ferry, attended it.
The “Marshal Rokossovsky” is Russia’s first Arc4 ice-class dual-fuel ferry designed to carry railcars with Russia’s standard gauge of 1,520 mm, as well as trucks and passenger cars. The first railway cars were rolled onto the ferry on March 4, after which it will operate the Ust-Luga – Baltiysk line.
Using eco-friendly fuel on the ferry will reduce CO2 emissions by 20% to 30% compared to similar ships running on traditional heavy fuel, as well as achieve a more than 90% reduction in NOx emissions and eliminate sulphur oxide and soot emissions altogether.
Vessel details:
Class: KM Arc4 AUT1-ICS OMBO ECO GFS Ro-ro ship from Russian Register of Shipping;
- LOA: 199.9 m;
- Beam: 27 m;
- Draft: 6 m;
- Speed: 16.6 knots;
- Crew/passengers – 22/36 people.
By the end of the year, a sistership of “Marshal Rokossovsky”, the ferry “General Chernyakhovsky” is to be delivered to join “Marshal Rokossovsky” in the Ust-Luga – Baltiysk service.