Russia Develops Shipbuilding Capacity in Far East

Russia’s president Vladimir Putin met with local officials last week to highlight the development of the shipbuilding industry in the Russian Far East. Speaking at Zvezda shipyard in Primorye Territory, he said: “Developing civilian shipbuilding and launching new production capacity is among the key strategic aims in terms of strengthening the industrial potential of the Russian Far East.”
 
The creation of the new Zvezda shipyard, expected to produce its first vessel in 2019, is essential for the entire national shipbuilding industry, he said. 

Zvezda is being built by a consortium consisting of Rosneftegaz, Rosneft and Gazprombank. A number of agreements have already been signed to establish joint ventures with the participation of Rosneft, FESRC, Damen, Keppel, and MH Wirth. 

According to Rosneft, the yard will initially build five LNG-fuelled aframax tankers, each of 114,000 dwt, plus ice-class multipurpose replenishment ships.

“Leading oil and gas companies and major corporations are all interested in working with Zvezda, and the first contracts to build vessels have been signed,” Putin said. “Zvezda is expected to use some 330,000 tons of rolled steel per year. It is very important that Russian metals companies cover most of the company’s needs.”

Putin said workforce productivity will not only be advanced, but for many indices – higher than that of our principal competitors. “Far Eastern shipbuilders will offer their customers high-quality competitive products, whilst the new yard will become a truly successful project and a bold asset for the development of the Far Eastern region.”

Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin said he expected the yard to focus supply ships, ice-class tankers and other marine equipment during its first phase of operation. A second phase of development will include the construction of a dry dock capable of housing ships of almost any weight and dimensions. The new dock is expected to be equipped with a crane with the load capacity of 900 metric tons, Sechin said.

A third stage of development will see the yard capable of building all types of offshore structures as well.