Norilsk Nickel to expand its river fleet

The tug boat built for OJSC MMC Norilsk Nickel (MMC Norilsk Nickel or the Company) was commissioned in the town of Bor (Nizhny Novgorod region) and the Russian flag was raised on the river tug today.

Portovy-1 river tug is the first new generation river tug to be used on domestic waterways of the Russian Federation. As part of the auxiliary fleet of MMC Norilsk Nickel in Dudinka, the new vessel will replace another river tug built back in 1969. The river tug is designed for cargo handling at ports and for towing within the Dudinka port roads. The vessel will operate in the river basin and mouth reaches of rivers allowing O grade mode of navigation.

The new river tug will facilitate mooring nonpropelled vessels involving the following operations:

- Roads maneuvering with river vessels and floating cranes.
- Auxiliary operations involving mooring, de-mooring and cargo handling to and from barges, river cargo vessels, lighter barges, and hulks.
- Distribution of vessels in refuge harbors for spring floods.
- Icebreaking on Dudinka River in autumn.
- Delivery of nonpropelled fleet for winter holding anchorage (settling the fleet off berths in autumn ice until freezeback).

«River tug commissioning is part of Norilsk Nickel’s strategy aimed at establishing its own modern fleet to ensure transport independence and improve operational efficiency of the Company», - said Sergey Buzov, Deputy General Director - Head of Transport and Logistics at MMC Norilsk Nickel.

In the recent years those involved in river shipping activities prefer building self-propelled dry cargo vessels and oil-carriers as well as nonpropelled barges. However the existing river tugs and pushboats is deteriorating steadily. Early in 2008 the number of similar vessels filed in the Russian River Register whose age was then less than 10 years was only 55 and 101 of registered vessels were 10-15 years old, 972 vessels were 15 - 20 years old, 2517 vessels were 20 - 30 years old and 3119 vessels were over 30 years old.

Portovy-1 river tug is a steel body single-deck motor ship with two propellers, front-terraced main deck, central wheelhouse and engine space, and icebreaker stem. Mooring pull is 6.5 tons.

Two high-speed 221 kW Scania diesels are used as main engines (each engine is capable of operating at 110% nominal capacity for 1 hour). Two Volvo Penta 62 kW diesels are used as auxiliary engines.

Dock weight of the tug is about 100 tons. Stationary eyebolts are installed to lift the tug by strops with floating crane. A rubber permanent fender goes along the body of the vessel. It means that the tug is capable of tugging tankers. Fuel capacity of the vessel allows 3.3 days of independent operation and its water capacity allows 4.8 days long independent voyage. The crew consists of 6 people.

The designed operating life of the vessel whose body is made of type D ship-building steel is 15 years.

In accordance with the Regulations of the Russian River Register, environmental measures have been taken during construction of the vessel.

Construction began at OJSC Nizhegorodsky Teplokhod Plant shipyard (Bor, Nizhny Novgorod region) on September 12, 2008 and the vessel was put afloat on August 27, 2009. Vessel design was delivered by Sea Engineering Bureau. The tug’s price is 120 million rubles.

ABOUT MMC NORILSK NICKEL:

MMC Norilsk Nickel is a diversified mining and metal producing company, the world's largest producer of nickel and palladium and one of the global leaders in the production of platinum, cobalt, copper and rhodium. By-product metals of MMC Norilsk Nickel include gold, silver, iridium, osmium, selenium, ruthenium and tellurium.

Production facilities of Norilsk Nickel Group are located in Russia (Norilsk Industrial Area and Kola Peninsula), Finland, USA, Australia, Botswana and South Africa.

Shares of MMC Norilsk Nickel are traded on MICEX and RTS in Russia, and its ADRs are traded on the OTC market in the USA and at the London and Berlin stock exchanges.