[6] In 1902 Karl Hagelin, "a veteran of the Volga and sometime visionary",[6] suggesting mating diesel engines to river barges.

[7] The holds were separated by longitudinal (rather than transverse) bulkheads running the length of the ship, a feature that became common on ocean-going tankers.

[7] The hull was built at Sormovo shipyard in Nizhny Novgorod and towed to Saint Petersburg for the final assembly.

[7] Vandal was accidentally damaged on its maiden voyage, repaired and served on the Volga route for ten years.

[9] Hagelin's proposal to convert existing steam-powered fleet to diesel engines was rejected by Emanuel.

The inventors sold their blueprints to Merkulyev Brothers of Kolomna who built the world's first true seagoing diesel-powered tanker, Mysl, in 1908.

[9] This, at last, compelled Emanuel to grant Hagelin sweeping rights to modernize the company fleet that reached 315 vessels in 1915.