The United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) has initiated the development of a new series of liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers, with the new vessel design meeting Arc4 ice class requirements.
This new series of LNG carriers was jointly designed by the Nevsky Design Bureau and the Northern Design Bureau, both subsidiaries of United Shipbuilding Corporation. Each vessel measures 299 meters in length, 47 meters in width, and has a draft of 12 meters. With a cargo capacity of 170,000 cubic meters, they are designed for a service speed of 19.5 knots and can operate for up to 45 days. The Arc4 ice-class hull design ensures the vessels can safely navigate through first-year ice with an average thickness of 0.9 meters.
The vessel can accommodate a crew of 38 and up to 12 additional personnel. The crew living quarters include single and double cabins with private bathrooms, and there is a dining room that can accommodate 38 people.
It is understood that USC is Russia’s largest shipbuilding group, operated by VTB Bank. Established in March 2007, it comprises over 40 enterprises including design bureaus, research centers, shipyards, ship repair facilities, and machinery manufacturing plants. USC consolidates the majority of Russia’s domestic shipbuilding resources, employing 95,000 personnel. Its product portfolio encompasses merchant vessels, nuclear submarines, aircraft carriers, and other naval vessels.
In related news, USC has recently secured an order from Russian shipping company Sozvezdie for six new river cruise ships. Each vessel features 126 passenger cabins and can accommodate up to 279 passengers. A key design innovation places the bridge below the deck housing passenger cabins and public areas, differing from traditional cruise ships that position the bridge on the upper deck.