I am in Lerwick, capital of the Shetland Islands, and the Ocean Atlantic is docked here, as of August2, 20015. The hammer and sickle remain visible on her stack from some, but not all angles of light. Am told she is serving as a floating residence for the many workers needed here for the energy industry, including the new gas plant being constructed.

The ro/ro deck was existing to the end of abt 2009, as far as I remember. These two sisters of the B492/II-class, built with a so called Pacific bow also worked regularly on the Vladivostok-Petropavlovsk(Kamtchatka) line and between Nachodka-Yokohama line. The ship had the same Russian name under both Russian transcriptions of RUSS/RUS' - interestingly origins from the Viking Rurik from Roslagen area in East Sweden - giving his name to the world's largest country: RUS - later "greekified" or even "latinofied" to ROSSIJA.

Another three sisters of the B492/II class was ordered for delivery in 1988, 1989 and 1990 mainly for CMP/BLASCO service from Odessa, replacing older units of the KALININ-class - however this order was changed as the Polish crisis in 1980's deepened and the chose to build another classes of ships instead.

The older sistership KONSTANTIN SIMONOV arrived in BMP/BaltSCo fleet as a internal Morflot fleet move and replacement for the in those days recently lost MIHAIL LERMONTOV in New Zealand(1986). KONSTANTIN SIMONOV was interestingly delieverd for DVMP/FESCO in 1982 and made her maiden voyage and passed La Habana, Cuba, but there the Morflot in Moscow changed their minds and she was then hurried back to Europe and based in Odessa 1982-1987.

Hi Guys

With respect, Lars is incorrect here. The first three of the class were built for operation by Black Sea Shipping Co. and the second three for FESCO. In practise, the 4th vessel was launched on 17 July 1981 as the Vasiliy Solovyev Sedov for FESCO, but delivered on 30 December 1982 to Black Sea Shipping Co. as the Mikhail Suslov. The last two vessels, Mikhail Sholokov and Konstantin Chernenko were delivered to FESCO. They never operated from Leningrad for BLASCO. From 1988 to 2000, the Konstantin Chernenko carried the name RUSS - I've posted a pic of her showing this name taken in Funchal, 1996

Allan

Lars,many thanks for this information.
Regards Doug.

Former Soviet passenger ship type "Dmitriy Shostakovich". First name KONSTNTIN CHERNENKO and port of registry Leningrad. When she later became RUS port of registry switched to Vladivostok.
Regards
Lars

Allan,I noticed she had the remains of the hammer and sickle
on the funnel and stumbled on the Russian Maritime Register
whilst looking for photo(s)in her original livery.
No doubt none exist,photography being difficult in those days.
Doug.

Before recent upgrade for International Shipping Partners she had a short career in Russia (based probably in St. Petersburg) as a "cruiser to nowhere" / casino ship.

There has been a mix up with this one Allan, you are quite right I had checked that link. All hopefully sorted now.
Regards
Ken

Hi Doug

If you follow the Equasis link to the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping, she is listed as a passenger ship.

Allan

Ralph,Allen,Ken,many thanks for all your input,much obliged.
Doug.

Just found this shot of her taken in 2006
http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=158822
Regards
Ken

Doug, she is on the website in various categories but as Ralph says she could be used for accommodation purposes as per this link
http://www.isp-usa.com/fleet/oceanatlantic/oceanatlantic.html

Also Equasis whilst not always correct have her as " Passenger Cruise Ship" and I propose that it how she should be categorised on the Website under her current name and registry.
Regards
Ken

Hi Doug

Nice shot Doug.

The 6th and last of the B492 type from Szczecin Shipyard, described as cruise-ferries. Although built with ro-ro doors, they have long since been welded hut and she's been used as a passenger/cruise ship since at leaast the late 80's when she was the Russ (with two 's') she lost an 's' and became Rus in 2000. Certainly not a ro-ro.

Allan

Ralph,thank you for the info,she was in from Gdynia,probably
where she dry docked.

Doug, she was a car ferry, but I believe that the current owners (International Shipping Partners, of Miami) want to offer her for charter on the accomodation vessel market. Hence, probably the decision to position her in Tilbury, close to various windfarm projects.