Baltiysky Zavod Cuts Metal for First Russian Mistral

01.08.2012 JSC Baltiysky Zavod Shipbuilding on Aug 1, 2012 began cutting metal for the hull of the first Mistral-class amphibious assault ship for Russian Navy. Works are going right on schedule.

Baltiysky Zavod started cutting metal for the first Russian Mistral right after Admiralteyskie Verfi shipyard handed over the first package of design engineering documentation adapted to the yard's capacities. The ship is supposed to be laid down on Oct 1. Expectedly, cutting metal for the second helicopter-carrier will start in May 2013.

Baltiysky Zavod is the shipyard appointed to build floating parts for hulls of Mistral-class landing ships. Admiralteyskie Verfi is involved in construction as design organization.

In July 2012, French company STX France delivered 3D layout of Mistral's floating parts to Admiralteyskie Verfi and first package of design engineering documentation. Keeping up with the project, the shipyard adapted it to capacities of Baltiysky Zavod.

"The point is that the French-built Mistral is made of 3.2*16-meter ship plates, while our machinery allows cutting of only 3.2*12-meter metal plates", explained Alexander Voznesensky, Director General of JSC Baltiysky Zavod Shipbuilding. "Thus, we needed to recalculate everything so that the hull would be made from our plates. We also had to take into account lifting capacity of our cranes, since hull sections must not be heavier than 120 tons", he added.

Russian state-led Rosoboronexport and French DCNS signed the Mistral contract in June 2011. JSC United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC, parent company both for JSC Admiralteyskie Verfi and JSC Baltiysky Zavod Shipbuilding) was appointed a contracting party of French shipyard STX France located in Saint-Nazaire. USC will construct 24 hull sections (stern parts of both ships) which make somewhat 40 percent of hulls. Then the sections will be delivered to France for final assembling.

Baltiysky Zavod was established in 1856 by an Englishman named Mark McFerson. The company bankrupted in 1872, having failed to implement critical number of contracts. Prince Esper Ukhtomsky purchased the company by auction and modernized production capacities. However, the new owner failed to cancel the credit, and in 1875 Baltiysky Zavod happened to be on the verge of bankruptcy again. Finally, Russian Emperor Alexander II decided to purchase the country's largest shipyard for the treasury. After that, Baltiysky Zavod was a Russian/Soviet state enterprise since 1876 through 1992.

In 1992, Baltiysky Zavod was privatized and then corporatized into an open joint-stock company. After that, the company was in private property of IST Group and United Industrial Corporation. Like it was in 19-th century, private owners had made Baltiysky Zavod bankrupt. Finally, late in 2011 the company again passed to state control represented by United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC). To preserve work collective and expertise, it was decided to establish JSC Baltiysky Zavod Shipbuilding within the USC. Most of employees passed to the new company. The new legal entity obtained shipbuilding and machine-building expertise as a strategic company. Main task of JSC Baltiysky Zavod now is to keep property in order and protect state interests in legal proceedings. JSC United Shipbuilding Corporation is the Russia's largest shipbuilding company. It was established by presidential decree in 2007; 100% shares is in federal ownership. The holding comprises about 60 companies and organizations of shipbuilding industry (largest shipyards and ship-repair plants, leading design bureaus). Presently, the corporation consolidates about 70% of national shipbuilding sector. Although the company is oriented on Russian market, it exports production to 20 countries.