Konstantin Buryanov: “All vessels will be delivered as scheduled"

Laky Verf celebrates its 10-year anniversary. Konstantin Buryanov, Director General of the shipbuilding company tells IAA PortNews about the results achieved over a decade and about the Company’s plans for the future.

-Mr. Buryanov, could you, please, summarize the results of 2014, how many shops did you build?

- The past year was reach in events with the construction of the 15-meter boat being the main one. It took slightly more than half a year to build the vessel. It is out first project with waterjets which allow for operation in shallow waters.  As of today, the vessel is kept in the heated premises of the shipyard and is ready for delivery.

Besides, in late 2014 we laid down the first boat of the new project, 17MJ. This high-speed boat with improved characteristics can be used for different purposes. The construction is to be completed by July 2015 and then the boat is to be represented at the Maritime Defence Show which is to take place in Saint-Petersburg on June 1-5, 2015.  

In 2014, we built and delivered eight boats according to the schedule.

- What is the shipyard’s backlog of orders for 2015-2016, what are the customers?

- The customers of our products are still the ministries and agencies of the Russian Federation, like the Emergencies Ministry, Federal Customs Service, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Transport Ministry. As for the backlog of orders for this year, we are currently building a series of boats for The Ministry of Internal Affairs.

As for the year of 2016, we can talk about it in late 2015 when the state procurement plan is formed.

- What is the share of imported components in your production? Can it be decreased in this segment of shipbuilding market?

- Considerable part of components comes from abroad. Today, we are working on phasing out of imports taking into consideration the quality of products.  

I would note that our shipyard has always been using reliable and use-proved equipment. High quality is ensured for all, even the smallest components. Laky Verf has gained a reputation of a manufacturer of high reliability products and we strive to support it.

So, the share of imported components in our production is permanently changing.

- How has the currency difference affected your work?

-  Currency rate increase has affected us as much as others dealing with imported goods. The cost of the final product rises with the increase of equipment costs. Meanwhile the company tries to preserve prices adequate for the customers. 

- Does the shipyard plan implementation of any new unique projects?

- Boats of projects 15MJ and 17MJ being built by our shipyard are unique to some extent. These projects feature improved nautical characteristics and higher speed. Besides, our designers improve the interior of each new project to make it more comfortable for the crew. One of the obvious advantages of project 17 MJ is the period of construction which takes 7-8 months on the average. As of today, Laky Verf has focused on implementation of these projects.

Also, Laky Verf cooperates with ECOOCEANE in designing vessels for collection of floating waste (micro-waste and hydrocarbons) from the surface along the shipping routes.

More over, we do not forget about the project 14М which is popular among the customers. Each new boat of this project is improved and features new technical solutions. 

- What challenges did you have to face over the 10-year period of building vessels?

- As a summary of the decade-long operation I can say that the Company saw different period, especially when it comes to construction of yachts. For example, we had to look for a long time for our latest yacht buyer. The yacht is currently under full operation of her owner.  

We use our long experience in designing and building yachts in construction of boats today.

When selling yachts, it was not easy sometimes to get on the right side of a potential customer. Finding both technical and design solutions or turning a customer to our views is not an easy task and we use this experience today when looking for customers of our boats.

- What events will be associated with the shipyard anniversary?

- We plan to celebrate our first anniversary at the place where the company was born, at the shipyard, together with our personnel and guests. All the more so as some of our employees have been living their lives to the beat of the company. There will be a ceremonial part with presenting of gifts.

However, the celebrations will not affect the work process and all the vessels will be delivered as scheduled.

Interviewed by Margarita Babkova

About the Company

From 2005 the company specializes in production of steel motor luxury yachts with exclusive design of the interior developed by the famous Dutch designers Guido de Groot and Frank Laupman. Since its foundation the company has built and transferred to the customers 6 yachts of 23M project. All 23.5-meter yachts successfully passed sea trials. The construction is supervised by Russian Maritime Register of Shipping.

Since its foundation Laky Verf has built 32 vessels including 6 yachts and more than two dozens of boats.

The keel of the company’s first yacht of project 23М was laid down in 2005.

From 2005 to 2009, the company built 6 yacht of the project. The yacht of project 23М was designed by a well known designer Guido de Groot (Guido de Groot Design). The yachts can pass the bridges of Saint-Petersburg and are used by their owners in both Russia and abroad.

Together with the construction of 23M yacht the company was involve in the development of larger yachts with the maximum length of 45 m. The famous Dutch designer Frank Laupman took part in working out of the projects for Laky Verf.

In 2010, the company expanded its product range having included special high-speed boats in it. The first patrol boat of 13M project was laid down in October 2010 and delivered in 2011. As of today, the vessel is being used an administrative, patrol and inspection boat at the Neva river. 10 boats of this project were built over two years.

In 2012, the company decided to improve the 13М project and to build a longer boat with improved characteristics. The customers of the improved projects are different ministries and agencies of the Russian Federation, like the Emergencies Ministry, Federal Customs Service, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Transport Ministry.

In 2014, the company laid down the first boat of 15MJ project with waterjets allowing for operation in shallow waters. In half a year, the company held a ceremonial launch of the boat.

The same day, the shipyard also laid down a patrol boat of project 17MJ featuring improved nautical characteristics and intended for different tasks. The construction is to be completed by July 2015 and then the boat is to be represented at the Maritime Defence Show which is to take place in Saint-Petersburg (June 1-5, 2015).

As of today, the company’s major tasks are to strengthen its position in the shipbuilding market, to improve the existing projects and develop new ones as well as to ensure even higher demand of customers.