Russian Navy's newest support tanker hits the water

Nevsky Shipyard, a company under Russia's state-owned United Shipbuilding Corporation, recently launched a new fleet support tanker slated for the Russian Navy.

Inzhener-Admiral Kotov will be used primarily for the transport of liquid cargo such as marine fuel, aviation fuel, and fresh water in support of deployed Russian naval and military units. Space will also be available for the transport of other supplies such as food.

The tanker will also be capable of underway replenishment and can refuel up to three different vessels simultaneously.

Inzhener-Admiral Kotov is the third vessel of the Project 23130 series of tankers designed and built for the Russian Navy. Upon completion, it will have a length of 130 metres, a beam of 21.5 metres, a draught of seven metres, a deadweight of 9,000, and a crew of 24. Two diesel engines driving a single propeller will deliver a speed of 16 knots and a range of 8,000 nautical miles.

The vessel will also have Russian Maritime Register of Shipping ice class Arc4 notation, which means it will able to sail through Arctic surface ice thickness of up to 0.8 metres during the summer and autumn and 0.6 metres in winter.