Yury Topchev - IMO 9338230

"Buffeted by gale force winds and heavy swell conditions the Greek operated salvage tug Hellas had to deviate to Falmouth over the weekend after breaking part of her towing bridle in the Western Approaches.

The Hellas was enroute from the Black Sea port of Nikolaev to the Leirvik shipyard in Norway, towing the newly-built MOSS 828 hull of the Uri Topchev, when she damaged her towing gear.

Pilot Captain David Pickston boarded the tow along with a standby mooring up crew. The harbour tugs Percuil, Ankorva and Sparrow took over the tow from the Hellas off the lighthouse. The tug and tow are now berthed on County wharf.

Appearance counts and talk around the Falmouth waterfront led to much speculation that the rusting hulk was on its way to an Indian sub continent scrapyard.

It may appear to be a rusting hulk but the Uri Topchev will be joining her sistership Vladislav Strizhov for service in the Russian Arctic and Barents Sea. When in service both ships will be two of the most advanced supply-ships in the world.

The ships will work in the Prirazlomnoye, the first oilfield in the Russian sector of the Barents Sea which is expected to come on stream in 2007.

The MOSS 828 MISV's (Multi Purpose Icebreaking Tug Supply Vessels) will be able to work in ice 1.5 metres thick and turn 180 degrees in three minutes in one metre thick ice."

Source: Falmouth Packet 05/04/06
http://www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/weatherandshipping/inport

Her name should be "Yuriy Topchev" and homeport "Murmansk". You may see the names already on the hull.