Russian shipyard lays keel for Project RSD59 dry cargo ship

A keel-laying ceremony has been held for the fourth multi-purpose 7,500DWT dry cargo carrier of Project RSD59 (Hull No.4) at Russia’s Krasnoye Sormovo shipyard.

Designed by Marine Engineering Bureau to replace the RSD49 design that had three holds, the vessels have been ordered by the State Leasing Transport Company and will be leased to shipping company Paula Rise.

Designed for transportation of general, containerised cargo, timber, grain, oversized cargo and dangerous goods in the Caspian, Mediterranean, Black, Baltic, White and North Seas, the KM Ice2 vessel of the Volgo-Don Max class have the maximum dimensions to sail along the Volga-Don canal.

The 141.0-metre LOA ships have a unique second hold for a cargo hold capacity of 11,400 cubic metres.

Powered by two 1,200kW engines, the vessels have an operational speed of 10.5 knots. 

The Nizhny Novgorod-based shipyard has a fifth Project RSD59 vessel to construct, and Nevsky Shipyard will deliver another five.