Volgoneft

Volgoneft (Волгонефть) is a series of oil tankers that was designed in the Soviet Union for the Volgotanker shipping company. Ships of this series were built from the 1960s to the 1990s. They were designed as "mixed navigation vessels": primarily for use on the large canals and navigable rivers of European Russia, but also capable of short-sea shipping in favourable sea conditions, with waves no more than 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) high.

There are five classes in the Volgoneft series. In chronological order, they are Project 558; Project 550; Project 1577; Project 550A; and Project 630. Many Volgoneft tankers have been scrapped, or have been converted into barges or lighters for bunkering. However, others continue to be used as river and short-sea tankers. Volgotanker has sold some of its Volgoneft tankers to various other operators; some of them outside Russia.

Three Volgoneft tankers have broken in two in heavy seas, spilling their cargo: Volgoneft-248 in 1999; Volgoneft-139 in 2007; and Volgoneft-212 in 2024. Also in 2024, Volgoneft-239 was damaged in a storm and ran aground, although without breaking in two.