Rescue ships extend Nordic Yards offer

The Russian-owned group named the unusual Beringov Proliv and Murman at a ceremony at its Wismar facility after a building period of nearly 18 months. Nordic Yards spokeswoman Susanne Meyer told The Motorship that the ships were undergoing final fitting work and sea trials prior to hand-over in spring to Rosmorrechflot (Russia’s Federal Agency for Maritime and River Transport). Among those at the naming was Russian Deputy Transport Minister Viktor Olerskiy.

Meyer said the owners were “very satisfied” with the newbuilds, which would be handed over in their Russian home ports of Korsakov and Murmansk for Arctic patrol and rescue duties with Russia’s maritime rescue services. Beringov Proliv will mainly operate around Sakhalin and Murman in the North-East Passage around Murmansk.

Owner and managing director of Nordic Yards Vitaly Yusufov said “it was a demanding challenge to build these technologically complex ships”. He added they were among “the world’s most modern and specialised rescue vessels” boasting high-tech equipment and performance capabilities.

The vessels are about 88m loa, 19.1m wide and draw 6m. Driven by two 3,500kW ABB Azipods, their top speed is put at 15 knots. Susanne Meyer reported they carry a crew of 22 including two medics and have accommodation for an additional twelve personnel.

The Beringov Proliv and Murman are classed as KM Icebreaker 6 AUT1-ICS OMBO FF2WS DYNPOS-2 EPP Salvage ships by the Russian Maritime Registry of Shipping. They are capable of emergency towing in bad weather as well as search and rescue and have hospital facilities, bow helipads, fire and oil combat equipment and capability to break through ice of one metre thickness. They also boast equipment for searching the seabed and investigating wrecks to depths of 1,000m.

Nordic, with facilities in Warnemuende and now also in Stralsund after acquiring Volkswerft last year, delivered the 80m offshore jack-up ship Wind Server to Denmark’s DBB in December and is working on many other newbuilding projects.