Samsung Heavy mulls joint venture with Russia for ice-breaking tanker business

Samsung Heavy Industries Co., the world's third-largest shipbuilder, said Friday the Russian government has proposed establishing a joint venture for an ice-breaking oil tanker business. Samsung Heavy is already building three ice-breaking oil tankers, each capable of traversing the Arctic Ocean. The 70,000-ton capacity ships are scheduled to be delivered to Russia's largest state-owned shipping company Sovcomflot by the end of 2007.