VESSEL REVIEW | Stovr – Russian survey specialist acquires new shallow-draught workboat

Russian shipyard Nefteflot, through its Samara Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Plant division, has delivered a new shallow-draught workboat to local inland waterway transport agency Rechvodput.

Stovr is the sixth to be completed under the eight-strong Project RDB 66.62 series of vessels that are designed for performing surveys of both inland and port waters. The newbuild has a length of 24.31 metres, a beam of 5.76 metres, a draught of only 0.93 metre, a depth of 2.2 metres, a gross tonnage of 130, space for a small tender, and accommodations for seven crew and survey technicians.

The number of survey technicians is less compared to similar vessels as the survey equipment on each Project RDB 66.62 workboat is fully automated. A Kongsberg Maritime EM2040 multi-beam echosounder coupled with Qinsy hydrographic data processing software can help the operators generate a 3D map of the seabed as well as the recommended volume of sediment to be extracted during dredging to ensure that waterways are safe for navigation.

Propulsive power is provided by a 295kW main engine, which delivers a speed of 9.7 knots. The engine is efficient enough that sailing at economical cruising speeds will enable the vessel to operate for up to four days. A 15kW bow thruster provides additional lateral manoeuvrability while two 50kW diesel generators supply power for the onboard systems.

Design work on Stovr was provided by local engineering firm Stapel in compliance to Russian Maritime Register of Shipping and Russian River Register ice 20 rules.

Some of our readers have expressed disquiet at our publication of reviews and articles describing new vessels from Russia. We at Baird Maritime can understand and sympathise with those views. However, despite the behaviour of the country’s leaders, we believe that the maritime world needs to learn of the latest developments in vessel design and construction there.

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