JSC Pavel Leonov ferry

MS Pavel Leonov ship (корабль Павел Леонов) is a cargo-passenger ferry (грузопассажирское судно) specifically designed for the Russian ferry route Sakhalin-Kuril Islands (crossing time ~24 hours). The ferry route (roundtrip from Korsakov) includes visits to the port towns Kurilsk (Iturup Island), Yuzhnokurilsk (Kunashir Island) and Malokurilskoye (Shikotan Island).

The vessel (IMO number 9872432) is Russia-flagged (MMSI 273210390) and registered in Korsakov (Sakhalin Island).

By this "Project PV22" are currently built and operational two units - Admiral Nevelskoy (2020 Dec) and the sistership Pavel Leonov (2021 May).

The vessel Pavel Leonov (yard/hull number 222) was started on April 1, 2019 (keel-laying ceremony), launched/floated out from drydock on August 6, 2020, and delivered on May 14, 2021. Sea trials were conducted in Lake Ladoga (May 2021).

• The repositioning voyage in 2021 from St Petersburg to Korsakov (along the Northern Sea Route) covered a distance of ~10700 km (6650 mi), ending in Korsakov on September 16th.
• The Maiden Voyage (from Korsakov) departed on October 1, 2021.
• The ship's godmother was Marina Yalymova (Марина Ялымова) - JSC United Shipbuilding Corporation's General Director).

The cruise ship was named after Pavel Petrovich Leonov (Павел Петрович Леонов/1920-2011) - a famous Russian painter from the USSR-Soviet period, popular for his "Naive Art" works. Art collections with pieces by Pavel Leonov are displayed at renown museums and galleries in Moscow, Bratislava (Slovakia), Zagreb (Serbia), Stuttgart (Germany/Charlotte Zander Museum), Oxford (England UK), Den Haag (Netherlands).

Shipbuilder, Shipowner, Project PV22 (history, specs)

The shipowner and operator is JSC Sakhalin Leasing Fleet. In August 2018, JSC Sakhalinleasingflot (Сахалинлизингфлот) and Nevsky Shipyard LLC signed the shipbuilding order for two units. Both ships (Nevelskoy and Leonov) cost JSC a total of RUB 4,7 billion (USD 75,2M / EUR 67,5M).

The ship was constructed in Shlisselburg (fka Petrokrepost) - a town located at Neva River's mouth (Lake Ladoga), approx 35 km (22 mi) east of Sankt-Petersburg. The shipbuilding company JSC Sredne-Nevskiy Shipyard (officially "Middle Neva Shipbuilding Plant" /Средне-Невский судостроительный завод/1912-founded) is currently part/subsidiary of JSC United Shipbuilding Corporation (2017-founded company) that specializes in shipbuilding, ship repairs and maintenance works.

JSC Sredne-Nevsky is one of Russia's largest shipbuilding companies and specializes in the construction of next-generation vessels, including passenger ships and warships for the Russian Navy (missile boats, minesweepers, patrol boats) made of fiberglass, aluminum, and low-magnetic steel. However, JSC's shipyard can produce ships with max LOA length 100 m (328 ft), max beam/width 16 m (52,5 ft), max draft/draught 4,5 m (15 ft), and max DWT-deadweight tonnage 2700 tons.

Designed by the Russian company Marine Engineering Bureau LLC (МИБ-Дизайн-СПБ), Project PV22 ferries are cargo-passenger ships (ARC4 class icebreaking vessels) with ice-strengthened hulls to allow safe operations on the Sakhalin-Kuriles route. Project PV22 is an improved version of Project MPSV07. By Project MPSV07, the Nevsky Shipyard produced 4x icebreaking salvage vessels (aka Arctic rescuers/class Icebreaker6) - Karev (2012), Kavdeykin (2013), Zaborschikov (2013), Demidov (2015). Project PV22 was developed as part of the Russian Government's program "Social and economic development of the Kuril Islands 2016-2025".

Project PV22 ships can navigate without icebreaker assistance in loose ice with max thickness 0,6 m (2 ft/winter-spring seasons) and 0,8 m (2,5 ft/summer-autumn seasons). The ship's max cargo capacity is 895 m3 (stored in an aft-located cargo hold), 24x TEU-containers (including 8x reefers/refrigerated containers) and 6x vehicles (passenger cars). TEUs and cars are stored outdoor - at an aft open-deck storage area. Open decks and cargo decks are served by one Gurdesan crane (30,5-tonne telescopic boom crane, at reach 12-m / 39-ft). The ship can store and transport various general cargoes, including refrigerated (perishable goods) and dangerous goods (packaged hazardous materials).

The powerplant consists of two 1,8 MW main diesel engines (model Wartsila 9L20, total power output 3,6 MW), in addition to 3x auxiliary engines (3x332 kW/total 996 kW), 2x diesel generators (model Volvo Penta D13, 2x500 kW/total 1 MW) and 1x emergency diesel generator (model Volvo Penta D9, output 214 kW). The engines run on HFO (heavy fuel oil)

The propulsion system includes one bow tunnel thruster (Schottel, 200 kW), four rudders (2x electro-hydraulic with torque 100 kNm each, plus 2x semi-balanced), and two CPPs (controllable-pitch propellers/aft). Wartsila also provided the gearbox (shaft line) and the Integrated Automation System.

The fuel tanks allow autonomous navigation/without bunkering for at least 15 days and cruising range of 8050 km (5000 mi). The ship has fuel storage capacity 82000 liters diesel (21660 US gallons) plus 307000 liters HFO (81100 gals), freshwater capacity 220000 liters (58120 gals), and blackwater/sewage capacity 165000 liters (43590 gals).

The onboard safety equipment includes two rescue boats (each 6 seats/by Pella Fjord), two lifeboats (each 96 seats/by Jiangyin Neptune Marine Appliance Co Ltd), and two liferafts (each 25 seats/by Psn Ufa), firefighting system (sprinkler-based, plus aerosol/CO2). The lifeboats are fitted with a heating system to increase the equipment's safety by preventing ice-formation on the davits (winches, brakes, pulleys). The ship has all four winches - 2x anchor mooring plus 2x mooring.

The Japanese company Furuno Electric Co Ltd provided the ship's radars, radios, sonar (underwater detection system), Satcom (satellite communications), Radiofax/Weatherfax. The Greek company SAIT Marine LLC provided the audio/video system, alarm/monitoring systems, and cameras/night vision. Other machinery and equipment include two gyro compasses, GMDSS (Global Maritime Distress and Safety System/Area3), Autopilot, four winches (2x anchor mooring plus 2x mooring), three anchors (holding power 1575 kg each).

Decks and Cabins

The icebreaking ferry Pavel Leonov has 6 decks and a total of 38 passenger staterooms. Of those, 30x are double-quadruple cabins (including one handicap/designed for passengers with disabilities), 6x are 4-bed cabins and 1x is a quad family cabin.

All cabins are with en-suite bathrooms (shower, washbasin, WC-toilet). For the cabins' interior (furniture and windows) was contracted the Russian company "Aris & Gesser". Standard amenities include lower fixed beds (with drawers), upper bunk beds (folding), bedside lamps, round porthole windows (non-opening), LCD TV (satellite reception), refrigerator, wall-mounted writing table with a chair, wardrobe. One luxury cabin additionally has a 3-seater sofa.

There are a total of 24 crew cabins (accommodating 22-28 people), including 5x officer cabins (Captain, Chief Officer, Passenger Assistant Captain, Chief Engineer, SSC company's representative), plus 9x double and 10x single cabins.

The Restaurant has a total of 74 seats, with adjacent Galley/Kitchen and provisions storage rooms. There is a Bar Lounge (for passengers) and a separate Messhall (crew-only dining room/lounge). The ship also has a small Gym Room (free weights, 1x Treadmill, 1x Bike Trainer), Sauna Room (with an adjacent small plunge pool room), Laundry Room, Reception Desk and Office (in the Lobby area on Deck 3).

The Infirmary (ship's hospital) consists of outpatient clinic (with bathroom/tub + shower), isolation ward (2-bed, with bathroom/bathtub + shower), hospital (treatment room), doctor's cabin (bed + sofa).