The vessel’s placement at the shipyard pier testifies that the tug construction is in the homestretch.
Besides, the launching day is announced as an open day. Everyone can visit our event and see how the agrarian company is reviving Ukraine’s shipbuilding sector.
By August 1 the tug will have entered NIBULON’s “fleet family”. Till the end of 2014 NIBULON-5 will have transported more than 70 thousand tons of agricultural products on the main waterway of Ukraine!
The vessel’s construction was started on November 22, 2013, when the first 19 tons of rolled metal used for assembly of the tug unit No.2001 were delivered. An agreement for cutting and processing of metal was signed with Kyiv plant “Leninska Kuznya”. Both Mykolayiv contractors (Khladotechnica Ltd. ISD Ltd., and others) and foreign ones (Berg, Mitsubishi, Volvo-Penta, Alpha-Laval, Aalborg, and others) were involved in the construction process.
At present the company’s fleet numbers 4 tugs of POSS-115 project. We would remind you that on May 31, 2011, at Mykolayiv shipyard “Okean” there was launched the first tug, NIBULON-1. Construction of the series of these vessels was started on June 30, 2010.
Fleet revival is carried out within NIBULON’s investment program started in 2009. Its goal is to revive the Dnipro and the Southern BugRivers as transport waterways of Ukraine. The current event is symbolic for the agrarian sector, as for the first time since Ukraine’s independence the Ukrainian agrarian company is building its own fleet.
Construction of tugs is performed at NIBULON’s own shipyard, the former Mykolayiv shipyard “Lyman”, which main assets and property complex were purchased by the company in 2012. In 2014 it has been planned to start reconstruction of the shipyard which project is developed by the leading foreign companies and corporations, namely TTS Сonsulting (Norway), KEMCO (South Korea), Via Nova Plants (Italy).
NIBULON-5 tug like other shipbuilding projects of the company (including the next vessel NIBULON-6 being built at the shipyard) are constructed from Ukrainian metal and sail under Ukraine’s flag. On construction completion of both vessels, the company will start to implement a number of other own shipbuilding orders: series of river tugs of POSS-121 project, non-self-propelled vessels of NBL-91 project, grain reloader of C14938 project. Self-propelled vessels of “Volgo Don Max” class will be built upon the shipyard reconstruction completion.
The tug of POSS-115 project is a vessel designed by NIBULON’s partner, Ukrainian design bureau “Torola Design Group”. This is a modern high-tech tug intended for operation on inland waterways of Ukraine, has mixed navigation and corresponds to the EU ecological legislation.  
The vessel has a corresponding class of the Shipping Register of Ukraine: KM ЛП4 III ЗП А1 “pusher-tug”. The length is 38.01m; width – 11.52 m; draught – 2.55 m; deadweight – 150 tons. Free-route speed is 11.5 knots; convoy speed is not less than 5 knots. Speed is ensured by two Mitsubishi main diesel-generators of 940 kW each; the rudder-propellers with a turning angle of 360 degrees are responsible for maneuverability. Lifting wheelhouse fixing in up position ensures better visibility when convoying.
Level of quality and perfection of the vessel can be testified by the fact that the vessel’s endurance is up to 30 days without refuelling!
Towing and mooring operations on the vessel will be ensured by fore towing winch with electric drive and 6 hand winches, and also aft and fore tug hook with remote recoil, and Pool–TW anchors. Navigation will be performed by КМО-Jupiter magnetic compass and Furuno SC-50 integrated satellite compasses.
The vessel’s construction is performed according to the following stages: metal cutting -subassembly and fabrication – manufacture of hull systems – hull formation – test of spaces – assembly of deck equipment – assembly of electrical and radionavigation equipment – mounting of insulation and metal plating, plating of spaces  – equipping of superstructure and living spaces – deck painting – mooring trials – sea trials.
Such vessels in NIBULON’s fleet allow to pilot by pushing or towing non-self-propelled vessels, to service them and other vessels at ports, to provide assistance in mooring operations, and also use vessels as ice-breakers. An example of such universality and operational reliability of the vessels is the events happened on October 29, 2011, when NIBULON-1 crew rescued a sailor on the non-self-propelled vessel damaged by the storm on Kremenchuk Reservoir.
At present NIBULON’s fleet numbers 28 non-self-propelled vessels (with the total deadweight of 131,080 tons); 7 tugs, including 4 tugs of POSS-115 project (11,280 kW), Watermaster Classic IV dredger made in Finland; St. Mykolai self-propelled floating crane. Due to its own fleet, the company successfully performs water transportation on the Ukrainian rivers. On completion of the investment program implementation, the annual volume of water transportation will comprise up to 3 million tons of grain.
NIBULON proves in practice that Ukraine’s agrarian company can be a motive force of economy and shipbuilding and be one of the domestic leaders in tonnage increase and fleet renewal!