Russia's Brand New Arctic Tanker to Plough the Seas in April

Russian Deputy Defense Minister Dmitry Bulgakov said said that the launching of 'Academic Pashin' polar cruise medium sea tanker will take place in April 2016

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The launching of Russia’s polar cruise medium sea tanker "Academic Pashin" will take place next month, Deputy Defense Minister Dmitry Bulgakov said Tuesday.

"The launching of 'Academic Pashin' polar cruise medium sea tanker will take place in April 2016," Bulgakov told reporters.

Works on the vessel’s rudder propeller unit are wrapping up and its launch is slated for the end of March 2016. Further works on its completion will be conducted next to the shipyard.

"To date, the Project 23130 ‘Academic Pashin’ for the auxiliary fleet currently under construction in Nevsky Shipyard, is more than 65 percent ready. We plan to receive the Project 23130 tanker in late 2016 – early 2017," Bulgakov stressed.

The 24-crew vessel’s overall length is 426.5 feet, with the extreme beam of 69 feet. Its maximum speed reaches 16 knots with the endurance of 60 days. The tanker's area of navigation is unlimited in compliance with its class as prescribed by the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping.