Image source: topwar.ru
The potential demand for cargo vessels of the Platform No. 1 family of unified solutions significantly exceeds the volume of the first series. The United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) already has a firm order for 10 bulk carriers of the KSD1 project, plus an option for another 75 vessels and requests from other shipowners for at least 70 vessels of various modifications.
This scale of demand allows us to plan the loading of the Krasnoe Sormovo plant for years ahead and place serial orders for marine equipment, said Andrey Puchkov, General Director of the United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC), in an interview with TASS. At the same time, the actual volume of output will depend on the solvency of customers and the availability of financing, said the head of the corporation.
At the end of September last year, the Krasny Sormovo began cutting metal for the first KSD1 bulk carrier. The unified platform is designed for the construction of a family of river—sea cargo vessels, including dry cargo ships, container ships and tankers: some of their design solutions and equipment should be common. USC is modernizing the shipyard with the expectation of producing up to 20 such vessels per year. According to Puchkov, the company will be able to reach this level within two to three years. The corporation plans to deliver the first vessel in 2027.
Image source: topwar.ru
The transition to common solutions for different types of vessels is related to the broader task of the USC. According to Puchkov, by 2036 the corporation intends to increase the share of mass-produced products from 30% to 50%. The stated market demands will turn into a long-term loading of the shipyard in the amount in which customers will be able to finance the construction of ships.
The KSD1 dry cargo ship is the first Russian vessel to be built on the basis of unified Platform No. 1. This is a common design solution for a whole family of river-sea cargo ships capable of international voyages.
