Russia: Admiralty Shipyard Plans to Launch Rescue Ship ‘Igor Belousov’ Next Month

Admiralty Shipyard, United Shipbuilding Corporation’s subsidiary, is planing to launch rescue ship Igor Belousov of Project 21300 by the end of October 2012. Construction of the Igor Belousov started in 2005 at the Admiralty Shipyards in St. Petersburg but has faced a series of setbacks.

The construction, which included mounting of deep-sea diving system GVK-450, taking place at the Admiralty Shipyards in St. Petersburg by Lazurit Design Bureau was supposed to be complete in 2010. The primary goal of the ship was to be capable of detecting damaged submarines.

However due to the failure to complete the construction and stick to the deadlines, in 2011 Russian Defense Ministry declined to implement its contract part and selected Tetis Pro, one of the largest Russian company specializing in the designing, constructing and supplying diving and subsea equipment, as the new supplier , installer and tester of the vessel. The ship will contain deep-sea diving system produced by Scottish firm DIVEX.

General characteristics of Project 22020 rescue ship Igor Belousov:

Length (on designed waterline) – 97.8m

Beam (on designed waterline) – 17.2m

Amidships depth – 10.6m

Displacement – 50.37m

Full speed – 15 knots

Seaworthiness, Beaufort force:

• idle navigation: unlimited
• lowering/lifting of deep-sea rescue vehicle: 3-4
• lowering/lifting of diving bell: 5

Cruising range at total fuel capacity, nautical miles: 3,500

Life-support endurance, days:

• for crew: 30
• for rescued people: 10

Accommodation capacity, men: 120 (including 60 in pressure chambers)

Navigation equipment: automated navigation system, navigation underwater sound system, hydrometeorological facilities

Hydroacoustic equipment: search sonar, underwater communication sonar, navigation sonar, hydrology measuring facilities

Optoelectronic detection equipment: multifunctional optoelectronic and television system.

Source: World Maritime News