OREANDA-NEWS. On September 03, 2008 a new 30 thousand tonne deadweight 1A Super ice class tanker, RN-Arkhangelsk, was launched for Rosneft at the Factorias Vulcano shipyard in the town of Vigo, Spain. The tanker is designed to navigate in extreme ice conditions of Arctic seas with more than 1.0 meter thick ice, and will make her debut in October 2008, reported the press-centre of Rosneft.

Rosneft is a proven leader in Russian shelf developments, including those being implemented in regions with severe ice conditions.

The new chemical tanker will be key to enhancing the Company’s transshipment scheme in northwestern Russia that involves the Belokamenka floating oil terminal near Murmansk, the ultimate junction to export crude oil produced in Timan-Pechora.

The 176 meter long and 30 meter wide tanker carries 25 thousand tonnes of oil, and will be able to deliver more than 1.2 million tonnes annually to the Belokamenka terminal.

RN-Arkhangelsk is the first vessel built in the framework of Rosneft’s tanker fleet program. Another two 1A Super tankers are expected to be put afloat in 2009.