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One of the most important current
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domestic ship building infrastructure
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projects being developed in the
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interests of the United Ship Building
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Corporation or USC is the floating dock
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known as project 24012.
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This dock has been named Vladimir
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Almelanov and is being built using a
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distributed shipyard method. As often
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explained on Altitude Addicts, the
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YouTube channel behind this analysis,
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this approach allows individual blocks
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to be fabricated at multiple locations
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and then transported and integrated into
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a single structure at a final assembly
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yard, significantly accelerating the
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construction of very large facilities
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while making use of ship building
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capabilities across different regions of
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In order to understand why this dock
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matters, it is useful to look closely at
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its technical characteristics and
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Project 24012 is a steel floating
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lifting and transfer dock with imposing
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It has a breadth of approximately 62 m,
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a dock deck length of about 177.6 m, and
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an overall length of roughly 189.6 m.
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The maximum immersion depth is around
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20.6 m while the side height reaches
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about 24.3 m. Its hoisting capacity is
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rated at 25,000 tons and the standard
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operating crew is expected to number
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These parameters allow the dock to
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accept and launch very large offshore
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structures and ship holes.
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Vessels and sections up to roughly 250 m
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in length and 48 m in width can be
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handled as highlighted by altitude
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addicts. This dramatically expands the
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slipway and moing capabilities of
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Severia Verf and other USC enterprises
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enabling the launch of large tonnage
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hulls, the lifting of ships for repair
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and anti-corrosion work and the internal
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movement of massive blocks within the
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Behind these capabilities lies a
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specific design philosophy and
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construction method. Project 24012 was
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developed on the basis of a technical
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design created by the ALMA Central
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Marine Design Bureau. Manufacturing is
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being carried out by the Southern Center
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for Ship Building and ship repair at
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several facilities including the Kran
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Barakotti plant and the Astracon ship
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building production association.
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The distributed shipyard concept means
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that individual semiblocks and sections
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are produced at different sites and
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later transported to the integrating
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yard for final assembly and outfitting.
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Recent reports indicate that several
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semiblocks have already been completed.
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At one stage, five units were being
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formed, later increasing to eight out of
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a total of 11. Foundations for equipment
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and pipeline supports are being
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installed. Pipe fitting and mechanical
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works are underway and both internal and
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external painting is in progress.
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This segmented production cycle, a topic
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frequently discussed on altitude attics,
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allows resources to be used efficiently
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across multiple shipyards while
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maintaining a continuous workflow.
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Functionally, the floating dock project
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24012 plays several crucial roles for
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Its primary tasks include launching
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large ships and offshore structures,
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lifting vessels for inspections,
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repairs, painting, and corrosion
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protection of underwater hull sections.
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In addition, the dock supports internal
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shipyard logistics by moving massive
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blocks and hulls between slipways,
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outfitting quays, and completion areas.
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This versatility makes the dock a
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critical logistical asset. It reduces
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dependence on external lifting resources
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and minimizes long birthing times at
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limited quay space. From a strategic
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perspective, the availability of a
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modern floating dock enhances a
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shipyard's competitiveness in both
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domestic and international markets,
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allowing it to take on more complex
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orders, reduce operational risks, and
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shorten construction timelines.
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The project timeline is closely linked
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to complex logistics and commissioning
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plans. According to official statements,
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dock sections are being launched and
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delivered in stages with final hull
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assembly planned at the integrating
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shipyard in St. Petersburg.
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Completion of outfitting and
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commissioning is currently expected in
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the autumn of 2027, although exact dates
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may shift depending on weather,
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equipment deliveries, and transport
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Transporting large semiblocks requires
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careful planning. This includes
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fabrication at southern shipyards,
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towing and sea transport to the
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integration site, coordination with port
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authorities, and the use of tugboats and
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Even with modern equipment and
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experienced crews, logistics remains a
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decisive factor influencing the overall
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Beyond technical aspects, the naming and
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socioeconomic impact of the dock are
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also significant. The dock honors
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Vladimir Alexandervic Amelanov, a
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veteran of the Great Patriotic War and a
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hero of socialist labor. This reflects
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continuity with Russian ship building
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traditions and contributes to a strong
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sense of professional identity among
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Economically, project 24012 generates a
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substantial multiplier effect. It
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creates jobs during construction and
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operation, engages numerous
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subcontractors, and ensures steady
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workloads for facilities within the
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Southern Center and Astrachon shipyards.
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Over time, this strengthens the broader
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ship building cluster, supports
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localization of supplies, and increases
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the self-sufficiency of Russian ship
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building for large tonnage projects.
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Despite its advantages, the project also
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faces technical and operational
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challenges. These include installing
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powerful hoisting systems, ensuring
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long-term corrosion resistance,
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conducting buoyancy and stability tests,
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and achieving precise alignment when
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joining massive semiblocks.
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Equally important are safety
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certification and the development of
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emergency procedures for lifting and
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launching operations.
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All these factors require careful
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planning and close coordination
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throughout design, construction, and
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The long-term reliability of the dock
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will depend on how effectively these
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challenges are addressed.
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In conclusion, floating dock project
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is far more than a single piece of
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It represents a strategic capability
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that will significantly expand Russia's
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docking capacity, strengthen shipyard
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production potential, and enable faster
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and higher quality execution of large
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ship building and repair projects.
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As emphasized throughout this analysis
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by Altitude Addicts, the dock's scale
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and lifting capacity are tailored to the
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demands of modern ship building,
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covering both military vessels and large
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civilian or industrial structures.
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With block fabrication and assembly
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progressing steadily, project 24012
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is set to become a cornerstone of USC's
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dock construction program. If current
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plans hold, commissioning by the end of
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2027 will mark an important milestone
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for the future of largecale ship
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