VBTH secures a $138-m long-term loan to expand tankers fleet
Volga Fleet Tanker (VF Tanker, part of VBTH, a sub-holding of the transport group UCLH) has signed a $138-million long-term credit agreement with Gazprombank to fund the construction of 10 product tankers of project RST27, UCLH said. The shipping company will place the newbuilds order with Okskaya Shipyard.
The RST27 project was developed by Odessa-based firm Marine Engineering Bureau to the class of Russian Maritime Register of Shipping KM Ice1 R2 AUT1-ICS OMBO VCS ECO-S Oil tanker (ESP). The working draft prepared by the Volga-Caspian Design Bureau (Nizhniy Novgorod).
The Volga-Don max tankers with six cargo and two slop tanks are designed for mixed river-sea transportation of crude oil and petroleum products (two types of cargo), including gasoline, with no flash point limits (permanent temperature of 60º C). The double-sides and double-bottom hull ensures enhanced environmental safety.
The vessel has 5378dwt at 3.6m draft in fresh water and 6980dwt at 4.2m draft in salt water. The RST27 project ship’s dimensions satisfy the Volga-Don Canal and Volga-Baltic canals. LOA - 140.85 m, beam - 16.86 m, depth - 6 m, the volume of cargo tanks - 7828 cbm, of slop tanks - 280 cbm, of ballast tanks - 4650 cbm. Operational speed - 10 knots. Crew – 12., 14 accommodations, including a sanitary cabin and a pilot cabin. The vessel is powered by two 1200kW Wartsila 6L20 main engines.
VF Tanker LLC (Nizhny Novgorod) is engaged in shipping of petroleum products via inland waterways. Volga Fleet Tanker operates more than 40 ships of total tonnage of more than 170,000 tons. The company’s fleet transports petroleum products from refineries on the rivers of Belaya and Kama to St. Petersburg and further by seagoing ships to the ports of destination.
Dutch-registered Universal Cargo Logistics Holding (UCL Holding) is an international transport group comprising a number of shipping, shipbuilding, railway, logistics and stevedoring companies based in Russia. The Group owns terminals at Sea Port St.Petersburg and Universal Handling Complex in the North-West Russia, at southern ports of Tuapse and Taganrog. UCLH is a majority owner of Volga-Balt Transport Holding (VBTH).
OJSC Gazprombank ranks among top three largest banks of Russia and fifth in the list of banks in Central and Eastern Europe. The bank provides services for about 3 million private and 45,000 corporate clients.
