Fincantieri’s yard at Muggiano-La Spezia has launched the specialised ship Rossita, which will be used by the Russian government to transport material from dismantled nuclear submarines from naval bases to storage facilities. The 1,620gt vessel, which measures 84m by 14m, has a cargo capacity of 640 tonnes and will be operated by a crew of 23, overseen by the Russian company Atomflot.
A service speed of 12 knots is furnished by twin Isotta Fraschini V1716T2MLH diesels of 2,600KW combined output. The material to be transported will include spent nuclear fuel, which will be moved from facilities in north-west Russia to a new treatment and storage plant at the port of Murmansk, as well as moving radioactive waste to a temporary storage facility at Sayda Bay, where Germany is building a treatment and storage plant. The vessel is due for delivery later this year.