VESSEL REVIEW | Aleksandr Parfenov – Russian harbour launch with hydrographic support capability

Russia's Zelenodolsk Shipyard has handed over a new multi-role harbour launch to local operator Rosatom for use by its Hydrographic Enterprise division.

Designed by local naval architecture firm Marine Engineering Bureau (MEB), Aleksandr Parfenov will perform a range of functions including hydrographic survey support in inland waterways, resupply, crew transfer, and maintenance of buoys and other aids to navigation. It is the latest example in the MEB-designed Project BLV03 series of workboats, which were developed primarily to provide hydrographic and navigational safety support for merchant ships transiting Russia's Northern Sea Route.

The vessel has an LOA of 35 metres, a beam of 10.6 metres, a design draught of 2.5 metres, a displacement of 576 tonnes, space for 10 crewmembers and four other personnel, a cargo deck with an area of 150 square metres, and a cargo hold that can accommodate up to 159 cubic metres.

Two 895kW engines deliver a speed of over 12 knots, a cruising speed of 11 knots, and a maximum endurance of 15 days. An ice class three hull ensures safe navigation even under mild winter conditions. For hydrographic duties, the vessel can be equipped with an echosounder.

A Melcal boom crane is fitted on the deck forward of the superstructure for loading and unloading of materiel.

Aleksandr Parfenov's area of operations will encompass the Kara Sea, the Yenisey Gulf, and the Gulf of Ob.

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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