Nizhny Novgorod, Russia based Krasnoye Sormovo Shipyard (Zavod Krasnoe Sormovo) on December 23 held a keel-laying ceremony for two vessels of a series of three 1000 cbm trailing suction hopper dredgers (TSHDs) ordered by FSUE Rosmorport, the shipbuilding company said.

The contract for three dredging vessels was signed between Rosmorport and Krasnoye Sormovo Shipyard in April 2014. Keel of the series lead ship was laid on November 14, 2014.

TSHDs will be built for Rosmorport's branches for dredging waterways in the seaport of Ust-Luga, Big Port St. Petersburg and Port of Tuapse.

Under the contract terms, the delivery of second and third vessels is scheduled for 2016, 2017, accordingly. However, the shipbuilder plans to complete the order ahead of schedule.

Rosmorport's Fleet Deputy General Director Sergei Kurov who attended the ceremony said he hopes for successful cooperation and does not rule out an option for the forth dredger.

The series lead ship was named "Sommers”. The TSHD “Kronshlot” to be operated at Big Port St. Petersburg was named after the fort built in 1704 near St. Petersburg. The third dredger chistened as “Kadosh” (shares her name with a cape in the Black Sea) will be homeported in Tuapse.

The dredgers design was developed at Damen Shipyard Gorinchem specializing in engineering and construction of dredging vessels and dredging equipment.

The series ship characteristics: LOA - 62 m, breadth - 14 m, holds capacity – 1,000 cbm. The vessels are able to dredge at a depth of 20 meters and operate in water temperature -2°C to +20°C. All three vessels will be equipped with the necessary high-performance equipment, suitable for operation in the region's climatic conditions.

Krasnoye Sormovo Shipyard based in Nizhny Novgorod (part of United Shipbuilding Corporation) is one of the oldest Russian shipbuilding companies, founded back in 1849. All vessels built at Krasnoye Sormovo meet the requirements of MARPOL conventions, having the state-of-the-art equipment. Over its history, the company has built and retrofitted about 2,000 civilian vessels and the Navy's ships.