Arctic offshore vessel Aleksey Chirikov has left on sea trial for four days on 19 March 2013. Arctech Helsinki Shipyard is building two identical offshore icebreaking supply vessels for Russia’s largest shipping group Sovcomflot (SCF Group), the shipbuilder’s press release said.
The first vessel of the serial, Vitus Bering, was delivered in December 2012 and has reached its destination at Sakhalin area in Far East Russia.
Aleksey Chirikov is the second vessel of the series and will be delivered in April 2013. The building of the vessel has proceded in schedule. The sea trial is part of the test use of the ship, which is done to assure the functionality of the vessel systems before delivery. After the sea trial the finalising works of Aleksey Chirikov will continue at Helsinki Shipyard.
Finland's Arctech Helsinki Shipyard Inc. specializes in Arctic shipbuilding technology, e.g. building icebreakers and other Arctic offshore and special vessels. It also unites the marine industry clusters of Russia and Finland.
The new Arctech Helsinki Shipyard Inc. joint venture combines the expertise of STX Finland Oy and Russian United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC). The joint venture agreement was signed in December 2010 and Arctech started its operation 1 April 2011. The company is equally owned by both of its shareholders. Arctech Helsinki Shipyard is located in Helsinki, Finland. The company has approximately 400 employees.