Lead ship of new Russian-built icebreaking supply vessel series floated out

Russia's Zvezda Shipbuilding Complex has launched a new platform supply vessel that will also be capable of icebreaking operations.

Named Yekaterina Velikaya ("Catherine the Great") after Empress Catherine II of Russia, the vessel is the first in a series of four ordered for state-owned petroleum company Rosneft.

Yekaterina Velikaya will have a length of 106 metres, a beam of 22 metres, and a deadweight of 5,100 tonnes. Secondary functions will include search and rescue (SAR), firefighting, towage, escort, and cargo transport.