An innovative Volgo-Don Extra Max class vessel design was presented at the ShippingRU 2023 conference organized last week in Moscow by Viva Consult.
According to Vadim Mischenko, MD of Maritime Engineering Center St. Petersburg, the vessel design branded Ataman-140 can cover the deficit of river-sea-going ships.
‘In 2022, 830 river-sea-going dry cargo vessels were deployed in Russia. BY 2025 their number is expected to reduce by 300 units to 550, and by 2030 by another 300 units,’ he said.
‘So, we expect that by 2030 some 160-200 new river-sea-going vessels should be built, including ships to be built to our design,’ he added.
Mischenko noted that there is a deficit of shipyard slots in Russia, so it remains to be decided where the innovative dry cargo vessels are to be built. He said that options to order such ships in China and Turkey are considered, but Russia remains a priority variant.
The estimated cost of an Ataman-140 vessel is more than 1 bn rubles ($13 mn). The design is undergoing a final stage of approval procedures with the Russian Register.
According to Mishenko, some companies have already expressed their interest in the project. ‘We expect the construction of a series of some five vessels is to start this year,’ he added.
Photo: Maritime Engineering Center St. Petersburg