VESSEL REVIEW | Anatoly Knyazev – Russian Navy places new hydrographic boat into service

The Russian Navy recently welcomed a hydrographic vessel into service for operation in the Baltic Sea.

Built by Okskaya Shipyard to a design by Vympel Design Bureau, Anatoly Knyazev is the newest example in the Project 19920 series of large naval hydrographic survey vessels, otherwise known as the Baklan-class. The vessels are designed to perform a range of duties in support of fleet operations such as hydrographic mapping, pilot and crew transfers, surface ship and submarine assist, maintenance and repair of aids to navigation, and limited cargo transport.

Anatoly Knyazev has an LOA of 36.44 metres, a beam of 7.8 metres, a draught of 2.1 metres, a depth of 3.6 metres, a displacement of 320 tonnes, and a crew complement of 11. Two Deutz BF6M1015MC diesel engines drive two azimuthing thrusters to propel the vessel to a maximum speed of 11.5 knots. A cruising speed of just under 11 knots will yield a range of 1,000 nautical miles or an endurance of 10 days.

Also fitted are a bow thruster, and two DGA-80-VA2-MPS 80kW diesel generators. For survey work, the vessel relies on a multi-beam echosounder, an acoustic profiler, and an electronic mapping system.

The Project 19920's design also features strengthened ice protection to enable operation during winter conditions in both offshore and shallow waters.

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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