VESSEL REVIEW | Marshal Rokossovsky – Large-capacity rail ferry for Russian port operator

Russian operator Rosmorport has commenced regular sailings of a new freight-only Ro-Ro rail ferry between the ports of Ust-Luga and Baltiysk.

The Marine Engineering Bureau-designed Marshal Rokossovsky was built by United Shipbuilding Corporation's (USC) Nevsky Shipyard in cooperation with Kuzey Star Shipyard of Turkey. The ship honours Marshal Konstantin Rokossovsky, a famed Polish-born military commander who saw service with the Russian and Soviet armies in both World Wars.

The newbuild has an LOA of 199.99 metres, a beam of 27 metres, a draught of six metres, a depth of 14.7 metres, a deadweight of 11,057 tonnes, and accommodations for up to 36 crewmembers. The vessel's beam was deliberately set to ensure compatibility with the existing installed ramps at the two destination ports.

The vessel can simultaneously transport railway cars with standard track gauges of 1,524 mm each as well as dangerous goods and up to 30 reefer containers. A maximum of 78 railway cars or 80 wheeled vehicles can be carried on each voyage. Also, according to Russian Transport Minister Vitaly Savelyev, loading the ship to its full capacity can be completed within five hours, or four times faster compared to the older ferries currently operating in the same region.

Two engines that can run on either diesel or LNG drive controllable-pitch propellers to deliver speeds of up to 16.5 knots while three side thrusters will proved added manoeuvrability for berthing/unberthing and navigating in close quarters. The use of dual-fuel propulsion also ensures that the ship will generate up to 30 per cent fewer CO2 emissions and 90 per cent fewer NOx emissions compared to similarly-sized vessels powered by heavy fuel oil-powered engines.

The ferry also has the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping's (KM) Arc4 ice class notation, which indicates the ability to navigate in winter sea conditions without the need for escorting icebreakers. Also fitted are a ballast water treatment system and wifi connectivity in the crew spaces.

In accordance with KM RoS rules, the vessel has an integrated computer control system so that operation of the engines is possible even without the constant presence of maintenance personnel in the machinery spaces.

Rosmorport will place General Chernyakhovsky, the only other vessel of the Project CNF19M series of Ro-Ro ferries, into service between Ust-Luga and Baltiysk before the end of the year. The two sister vessels will help provide a continuous logistical connection for consumer goods, construction materials, and other essential items between the Kaliningrad region and the rest of the country.

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