Project 03182 Mikhail Barskov Platform-Arctic
Zelenodolsk Design Bureau (ZPKB) has designed a ship of a new type for the Russian Navy - a small sea tanker of project 03182. Experts note that a vessel of such modern architecture and concept for the fleet can be considered not only new, but also innovative. It is planned to build 12 large support vessels for the Russian Navy, which are a variant of the small sea tanker of Project 03182. At the same time, it is stated that "the new version of the tanker is somewhat larger and more saturated with all kinds of specific equipment."
Until now, there have been no such vessels in Russia as a small sea tanker (MMT) of project 03182. It is designed to receive, store, transport and transfer liquid cargo (diesel fuel, fuel oil, aviation fuel, fresh water) to surface ships and submarines. In addition, MMT will supply ships and vessels with cargo in barrels, boxes, containers, collect bilge, sewage and waste water, dry garbage and food waste.
Project 03182 tanker ice class Arc4 have total displacement of 3500 tons, deadweight 1,560 dwt, length 75 m [246 feet], width 15.4 m, draft at full load 5 m and be provided with electric power plant with rudder propellers (according to the latest information – Chinese origin).The crew of 24 people with the possibility of placing another eight people. The vessels are equipped with a pad for helicopter Ka-27 class. Major characteristics of Project 03182: length – 78.8 m, width – 15.4 m, draft max – 4.9 m, cruising range - 1,500 miles, endurance – 30 days, crew – 18 - 24 people, as well as 8 people of combat escort, full displacement – 3,500 t, deadweight – 1,560 t, seaworthiness – up to 9 points, main propulsion power - 3 x 1600 kW, auxiliary powerplant capacity - 2x400 kW, propulsion unit 2x1600 kW.
The composition of the deadweight: fuel oil, diesel fuel, fresh water, oily water, sewage and fecal water, other cargo, own stocks. “Today there are changes in the project so that the tanker can also carry helicopter fuel,” says Vitaly Volkov, General Director of ZPKB. "This is in excess of the initially set. So we are making improvements. "
The Project 03182 is a seagoing tanker [small] designed to arrange replenishment at sea as well as to store and transport liquid cargo; provide vessels with cargo in barrelwares, boxes, pallets, containers etc; and - collect bilge waters, sewage waters, dry wastes and food wastes.
However, project 03182 is not only a tanker, but also a universal platform of reinforced ice class “to provide the concept of Arctic vessels for the transportation of liquid and dry cargo, discharge cargo and people with the ability to receive helicopters (including unmanned aerial vehicles) and perform rescue operations ". That is, with some changes in the design, this is a vessel for rescue duty, technical support in areas hazardous to navigation, servicing transport operations in ports, removing emergency vessels from the shoals and reefs and towing them; also 03182 can be a fire ship.
Expert Dmitry Boltenkov believes the tankers will expand the capabilities of the Black Sea fleet. “Any group of warships is accompanied by a tug and tanker. The latter supplies fuel, oil, spare parts and food. The tug tows a warship in case of breakdown. Project 03182 tankers are universal. They can easily cope with the missions performed by two vessels at present. They can extinguish fire and participate in search and patrol operations,”.
Former Navy Chief-of-Staff Admiral Valentin Selivanov is convinced the new tankers will be mostly used in the Mediterranean Sea. “The Soviet Mediterranean squadron had four tankers to fuel warships and diesel submarines. It is not always possible to obtain the necessary fuel in a foreign port. Besides, the power plants are adapted to domestic diesel fuel or black oil. There is a danger that foreign ports may not let Russian warships in. A tanker is necessary in this case,”.
The ships are universal and can engage in a broad range of missions. They transport liquid and dry cargo and passengers. They can pump fuel and oil to ships in open sea and load major cargoes in barrels, boxes, and containers. The tanker can withdraw any garbage from a warship, as well as liquid waste, including oil polluted water. It can ensure transport operations in seaports.
The new tanker can independently patrol navigation areas which are dangerous because of bad weather. It can engage in rescue duties in fishing areas, offshore oil and gas deposits and enjoy air support, as it has a helipad for Ka-27 in the stern. The tanker can carry several drones for reconnaissance in a radius of several dozen or hundreds of kilometers depending on the model. In an emergency, the tanker can rescue distressed seafarers. It can heave off a vessel, pump out water and tow it to a nearby port. The tanker has pumps and water jets to extinguish fire.
Project 03182 ships can operate in any latitude, including northern ones. They can operate in Arctic seas in 0.6-0.8-meter thick ice. They can sail the Northern Sea Route and participate in Arctic scientific expeditions. The tanker is not big and has a displacement of 3500 tons. It is 75 meters long and 15.4 meters wide and enjoys good seaworthiness. The crew comprises 24 men and at least another eight people can be accommodated.
“In fact, the project can be viewed as a supply vessel, including, apparently, onshore facilities,” said Mikhail Barabanov, scientific editor of the Arms Export magazine.... - Also, it can probably be used as a large sea rescue tug ... How urgent is the Navy's need for this kind of vessels? From experience, there are never many of them. "
“A vessel of such a modern (I would say, modern) architecture and concept for our fleet may well be considered not just new, but even innovative,” said Dmitry Glukhov, an independent naval expert.... - In principle, tankers in the Russian Navy, and earlier in the USSR, could also transport and issue several types of fuel - the same naval fuel oil, aviation kerosene. But they were the courts of old conceptions of narrow specialization. The veteran tankers inherited from the Union have already exhausted their resource a long time ago and are in dire need of replacement. In accordance with current trends, it is preferable to change them not for highly specialized vessels, but for universal multifunctional ones, such as MMT. 03182 is not just a small sea tanker, although it will most likely be classified this way, but already a universal vessel.""
Noteworthy is the northern aspect of the project. The hull of MMT is of reinforced ice class Arc4, which allows the vessel to operate in the Arctic seas. And in general, the topic is called "Platforma-Arktik".
“The Zelenodolsk bureau immediately designs not even just a multipurpose vessel, but a platform that is basically suitable for many modifications for various departments with different functionality at the request of the customer,” notes Glukhov. - This project is positioned as “Platform-Arctic”. “Arctic” - because it will also have ice-moving capabilities. On the basis of project 03182, ships can be created for other customers, for example, for the coast guard, in the version of both the PSKR and the supply vessel. The Ministry of Emergency Situations may be interested in the rescue option."
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