On the 12th of July 2016 a solemn ceremony of launching of the single-deck dry cargo vessel of mixed “river-sea” navigation RSD49 project “ZHIBEK ZHOLY”, took place on the slip of Nevsky Shipyard. The construction of vessel is provided by the order of TOO "KTZ Express Shipping" (Kazakhstan). The project was developed by CJSC “Marine engineering Bureau-design-SPb”.
RSD49 prj. vessel's feature is a big middle hold of 52 m long as diversity from all other "Volga-Don Max" type projects designed by MEB. This hold allows to transport large-sized cargoes in direct voyages from Europe to Caspian Sea; such point should significantly increase economic effect of vessels' operation.
Overall length is of 139.95 m, overall breadth is of 16.70 m, breadth without side fenders is of 16.50 m, depth is of 6.00 m.
Summarized capacity of cargo holds is of 10920 cub. m.
Operational speed is of 11.5 knots.
With characterized draught of 3.6 m in Volga-Don canal deadweight is about 4520 tons, maximal deadweight in the sea with draught of 4.70 m is of 7143 tons.
Sea sailing autonomy is of 20 day.
Vessel was designed for Russian Maritime Register of Shipping class notation of KM 
Ice2 R2 AUT1-C. The project satisfies all the requirements of international conventions.
Vessels of the series can be operated for transportations of general, bulk, timber, grain and large-sized cargoes, dangerous goods of 1.4S, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.1, 8, 9 classes of IMDG Code and cargoes of category B of BC Code. Sailing regions are Mediterranean, Caspian, Black, Baltic, White, North Seas, including voyages around Europe and to Irish Sea in winter.
Deputy Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation - Head of the Federal Agency of Sea and River Transport Olersky V.A., General Manager of Russian Maritime Register of Shipping Palnikov K.G., President of the National Company "Kazakhstan Temir Zholy" Mamin A.U., President of JSC «KTZ Express» Iskakov D.Zh., President of JSC "NC" Aktau International Sea Commercial Port" Yalbachev M.Y., General Director of LLP «KTZ Express Shipping» Adilgerey S.S., representatives of ministries and departments of Russia and the Republic of Kazakhstan, Saint-Petersburg and Leningrad region, credit institutions, the client company, and other officials attended the ceremony.
