Zvezda Cuts First Steel for Sovcomflot Aframax

Russia's Zvezda shipbuilding complex has starting building a new Aframax tanker for compatriot shipowner Sovcomflot.

The vessel is the sixth tanker build underway at the newly opened shipyard and is one of 12 Aframaxes in the builder's order book. The ice class ICE-1A ships are 250 meters long, 44 meters wide and are equipped with the Class A automation system, and can run on liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuel.

Currently four Aframax tankers are under construction at the shipyard. The flagship of the series, the 114,000 dwt Vladimir Monomakh, has been launched and is preparing for mooring tests.

The shipyard’s order book presently is comprised of 39 vessels, or 59 vessels including options. Twenty-eight of the vessels are on order for Russian oil company Rosneft.