Composite shipbuilding

According to RF Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov, Russian shipbuilding has overcome the technological gap accumulated in 90-ies. As an example, he mentioned the construction of composite vessels being developed in Russia. However, the demand for domestic products needs to be encouraged. Therefore, the Ministry of Industry and Trade supports the initiative of utilization grants.

Lighter and cheaper

When implementing the federal special-purpose programme “Development of Civil Marine Facilities in 2009-2016” Russia managed to overcome the technological gap in this sector. This opinion was brought out by RF Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov at the meeting  dedicated to shipbuilding issues held at Krylov State Research Center.

He noted that scientific-research and research and development works estimated at RUB 34.7 bln are to be implemented in 2013-2015 (50 scientific-research and 274 research and development works). With successful implementation of the plans, total volume of shipbuilding works in Russia will reach 1 RUB trillion by 2020.

“For the recent three years we have been focused on technological modernization of the industry. We have achieved the majority of targets under the Programme. 640 new technologies have been developed, one third of them are of a global level,” Manturov said.

He emphasized that those are not just abstract work without practical application. In proof of his statement he gave an example of composite shipbuilding development.

Presently, the construction of composite vessels is, for example, the practice of Sredne-Nevskiy Shipyard (SNSY) near St. Petersburg. It is building a passenger catamaran for 150 persons.

The project of the catamaran was designed by the Central Design Bureau Neptune. As compared with Meteor, the catamaran will feature improved nautical characteristics, ability to work at night and higher comfort for passengers in heavy sea.

Three-layer composite material comprising carbon fabrics and foamed plastics will be used for the construction. Carbon fabrics will be supplied by Russian manufacturers while the resin is to be imported.

One of the advantages of the new catamaran will be low weight which is to make its operation more commercially efficient. Norway has an experience in building vessels under this technology.

In the future, the shipyard is going to continue the construction of such catamarans.

It should be noted that Sredne-Nevskiy Shipyard is going to complete the second phase of production modernization by 2017 at the expense of the federal special-purpose programme. As еру shipyard’s technical manager Aleksey Pishchugin told journalists, there is a plan to build a blank production shop of 7,000 m2 which is to increase the entire area of blank production shops to 14,000 m2, and to upgrade the launching gear.

This will let the shipyard build vessels with length of up to 110 m, breadth of 16 m and launching weight of 2,500 tonnes. As of today, the shipyard can build vessels with length of up to 85 m, breadth of 14 m and launching weight of 850 tonnes.

The projects of passenger vessels made of composite materials (passenger ferry for 150 persons and aquabus for 58 persons) have been developed by Krylov State Research Center.

As of today, one of the key issues related to construction of composite vessels is the development of classification rules. The draft rules are currently being elaborated by SNSY to be further submitted to the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping for approval.

Russia has already had an experience in construction of composite vessels. Pacifico Marine LLC was building three composite catamarans for APEC summit at the facilities of Vostochnaya shipyard OJSC. However, the company had to fold its activities because of the conflict with the shipyard management and Primorsk Territory authorities.

In search of the demand

Whatever the success of Russian average tonnage shipbuilding is, this sector cannot develop without orders. Of course, many shipyards like SNSY are financed by FSPP and State Defense Procurement, but stable demand from private sector is also required for adequate development. To ensure that, National Shipping Chamber proposed the introduction of utilization grants for ship owners willing to renovate their fleet at Russian shipyards.

As Denis Manturov told journalists when visiting Sredne-Nevskiy Shipyard, the Ministry “fully and completely” supports the proposals forwarded by the Ministry of Transport. He emphasized, that the demand for Russian products should be motivated and this measure encourages customers to place orders for construction of new vessels with the domestic shipyards.

Vitaly Chernov