SCF Group is considering the possibility of placing an order for the construction of two icebreakers at a Finland shipyard, PortNews correspondent reported IAA, PortNews correspondent reports citing Sovcomflot President & CEO Sergey Frank who was delivering lecture for students at Graduate School of Management of St. Petersburg State University. The diesel-electric 12 MW icebreakers each with an azimuthal motion principle are intended for Sakhalin-2 project.
"For Sakhalin-2 project we need to have two icebreakers by May 1, 2013," Mr. Frank said.
According to him, Russian shipyards do no have capacities to implement such a project. However, Russia has good experience in construction of ice-class vessels and icebreakers, in particular. "We have encouraged the Russian shipbuilders to the alliance with the Finns", said Mr. Frank. It means a possible transfer for the Russian contract a shipyard in Helsinki. "Maybe they will give the shipyard," added Mr. Franc.
He recalled that Russian shipbuilders have already taken advantage of strategic partnerships with foreign shipyards. In particular, the Sovcomflot order for a series of Aframax tankers, which "urged the United Shipbuilding Corporation to the alliance with S. Korean company DSME», a JV for construction of a new shipyard in Primorye (Far East).
"We will hardly ever become shipbuilders number one, but we do not have to,” he said Sovkomflot. “We need to build ships with high added value."
"For Sakhalin-2 project we need to have two icebreakers by May 1, 2013," Mr. Frank said.
According to him, Russian shipyards do no have capacities to implement such a project. However, Russia has good experience in construction of ice-class vessels and icebreakers, in particular. "We have encouraged the Russian shipbuilders to the alliance with the Finns", said Mr. Frank. It means a possible transfer for the Russian contract a shipyard in Helsinki. "Maybe they will give the shipyard," added Mr. Franc.
He recalled that Russian shipbuilders have already taken advantage of strategic partnerships with foreign shipyards. In particular, the Sovcomflot order for a series of Aframax tankers, which "urged the United Shipbuilding Corporation to the alliance with S. Korean company DSME», a JV for construction of a new shipyard in Primorye (Far East).
"We will hardly ever become shipbuilders number one, but we do not have to,” he said Sovkomflot. “We need to build ships with high added value."
Earlier reports said that JSC Sovcomflot and FGUP Rosmorport signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Finnish enterprises which specialize in the design and construction of ice-breaking and salvage vessels in Lappeenranta (Finland). The agreement was signed during the visit of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to Finland.
On behalf of the Russian Federation, the Memorandum was signed by the heads of Sovcomflot and Rosmorport, meanwhile the Finnish side was represented by the senior managers of STX Finland, Aker Arctic Technology Inc. and Southeast Trading Oy.
According to SCF press release, the signed memorandum covers cooperation between the Russian and Finnish signatories with the implementation of the pilot project to design and construct an innovative oil spill combat and salvage icebreaker. This will enable any accidental oil spills in the Gulf of Finland area to be tackled, including during ice conditions. The intention is also to use such ships for other tasks, such as the rescue of human lives, tug boat operations, escorting transport vessels and specialised floating facilities as well as ice escort services, etc.
According to SCF press release, the signed memorandum covers cooperation between the Russian and Finnish signatories with the implementation of the pilot project to design and construct an innovative oil spill combat and salvage icebreaker. This will enable any accidental oil spills in the Gulf of Finland area to be tackled, including during ice conditions. The intention is also to use such ships for other tasks, such as the rescue of human lives, tug boat operations, escorting transport vessels and specialised floating facilities as well as ice escort services, etc.
SCF Group is one of the top five largest tanker companies in the world. The SCF’s fleet of 147 vessels has a total deadweight of 10.84 million tons, 13 newbuilds with a total deadweight of about 1.39 million tons, the average age of the tanker fleet is 6.1 years.