The Akademik Gubkin Aframax tanker set for sea trials

The Akademik Gubkin tanker, commissioned by Rosnefteflot, began sea trials at the Zvezda Shipbuilding complex. This is the fourth Aframax tanker in the shipyard’s order book to be launched.

The naming ceremony took place during the 7th Eastern Economic Forum at the Zvezda shipyard. The Rosneftflot tanker was named after the outstanding Russian scientist Academician Gubkin.

The vessel has successfully passed mooring trials, during which inspection and adjustment of systems and equipment were performed, the tanker’s main engine was started, its working capacity and readiness for the sea were tested. After that, the tanker was unmoored from the outfitting quay and moved out the shipyard’s waters, then moved to the area of the trials under its own power. During the trials, the vessel’s speed performance and its steering capabilities in all operating conditions will be tested.

During the sea trials, the vessel’s crew, together with Zvezda’s specialists, will check the performance of the main and auxiliary engines, as well as the tanker’s life support and navigation systems.

Following the sea trials, controlling the examination of machines will be performed in order to present them to the Maritime Register of Shipping and to Rosnefteflot, the vessel’s commissioner and Rosneft Oil Company’s subsidiary, that specialises in chartering and port warranty, implementation of shipbuilding projects and managing sea and river fleet.

Aframax oil loading tankers are designed for carrying oil and petroleum products in unrestricted navigation. The tanker has length of 250 metres, width of 44 metres, deadweight of 114 thousand tonnes, and speed of 14.6 knots, with ICE-1A ice-class. The ship can carry up to 130,000 m³ of raw materials.

In total, Zvezda has a series of 12 tankers of this class on its order book, with three Aframax tankers – Vladimir Monomakh, Vladimir Vinogradov and Okeansky Prospekt – currently in regular crude oil service.

The Aframaxes are the first tankers of this class to be built in the Russian Federation. The «green» vessels are designed in compliance with high environmental safety standards. The main and additional power supply units can operate on both traditional and green fuel, the liquefied natural gas, which meets new environmental standards.

The Zvezda shipbuilding complex is being built on behalf of the Russian President by a consortium of investors led by Rosneft. The Company has provided a pilot load for the shipbuilding complex – contracts have been signed for the construction of 28 vessels.

The Zvezda Shipbuilding Complex is designed for the production of large-capacity vessels, ice-class vessels with a displacement of up to 350,000 tonnes, special-purpose vessels, and other marine equipment. The shipyard’s portfolio already contains over 60 vessels.

The shipyard project includes facilities already commissioned and in operation – the hull fabrication unit, painting cells, the open heavy dock slipway and the largest dry dock in Russia – as well as second stage facilities under construction.

Rosneft
 Information Division
April 24, 2023