United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) and Vyborg Shipyard (VSZ) on February 23, 2012 signed contracts to build two diesel-powered sea-going icebreakers of project 21900M with rated power 16 MW, USC press office said.
The newbuilds contract worth about RUB 8 billion will allow the Vyborg Shipyard to overcome the financial problems, which had troubled the company since 2011, to ensure steady flow of employment for years to come, as well as wages and other social commitment of the enterprise, the USC report said. Previously, the growing burden of debt, the lack of newbuilding orders, had forced the shipyard to announce numerous layoffs.
The icebreakers are scheduled for delivery in May and October 2015. The Project 21900M double-decked icebreaker features enhanced performance, taking into account the operating experience of two icebreakers of 21900 project during winter navigation in the Gulf of Finland. The vessel equipped with a helipad has length overall – 116 m, beam – 26.5 m. The icebreaker will be able to cut channels through ice of up to 1.5 meters in thickness.
United Shipbuilding Corporation was founded in 2007 as a 100-percent state-owned group of companies consolidating about 70% of domestic shipbuilding industry. UCS currently incorporates three regional shipbuilding centers, nine engineering and design offices and 39 dockyards. The Corp’s largest shipbuilding assets include Kaliningrad-based JSC Yantar Shipyard, JSC Admiralty Shipyards (St. Petersburg), JSC PA Sevmash (Severodvinsk), JSC DVZ Zvezda (Vladivostok). Besides, UCS holds a 50% stake in Arctech Helsinki Shipyard, a joint venture with STX Finland Cruise Oy.
USC posted for the 2011 period revenue of more than RUB 160 billion, net Income – RUB 1 billion and portfolio of orders – 1 trillion rubles. The Corp. focuses primarily on the Russian market, but also exports its products to 20 countries.
Vyborg Shipyard (OJSC Vyborg Shipbuilding Plant) is a largest shipbuilding firm in Russia’s North-West region dedicated to building drilling rigs for offshore deposits development and vessels of small and medium tonnage.