New Russian Navy Tugboat Sinks Near Pier of Baltic Shipyard During Final Outfitting Works

A newly built Russian Navy Tugboat, the Kapitan Ushakov (Project 23470), sank on August 9 in St. Petersburg, during the final outfitting works near the pier of the Baltic Shipyard.

The incident occurred on August 8, 2025, when the vessel developed a list to starboard, and the specialised team attempted to stabilise it overnight but was unable to prevent it from capsizing.

By morning, it had gone to the bottom alongside the pier.

The pier was leased by the Yaroslavi Shipbuilding Plant, which was responsible for completing the tug.

Per the Russian Investigative Committee’s regional transport division, the flooding started in the auxiliary machinery compartment and caused the list that led to the sinking.

Investigators are conducting a pre-investigation check under an article related to violations of the construction safety standards.

The Kapitan Ushakov was laid down in 2017 at the Yaroslavi Shipbuilding Plant and launched in 2022.

In late 2023, it was sent to St. Petersburg for completion with plans to enter service with the Northern Fleet’s 566th support ship detachment based in Murmansk.

It was expected to become operational by 2024 end.

Project 23470 ocean-going tugboats are designed for towing vessels, floating objects and offshore structures in any navigation area, including ice conditions up to Arc4 class.

They can perform search and rescue missions, firefighting and have a helipad.

The class has a displacement of 3200 tons, a length of 69.75 m, a beam of 15 m and a crew of 33 and an endurance of 30 days.

Four other ships of this class have been launched since 2014, and three are in service, two in the Black Sea Fleet and one in the Pacific Fleet.

Source: Maritime Shipping News