Baltiysky Zavod Shipyard Starts Unprecedented Recruitment

14.09.2012 For the first time in many years, Baltiysky Zavod shipyard (affiliate of United Shipbuilding Corporation) starts large-scale recruitment of engineers and workers competent in shipbuilding. By 2013, labor staff of Baltiysky Zavod Shipbuilding Ltd will increase by one third.

Today, the shipyard employs almost 2,400 persons including over 800 direct-labor workers. According to the shipyard's personnel director Irina Musienko, by the end of 2012 the company will need to recruit 200 employees, and in 2013 – other 450 workers plus 150 engineers and servants. "Primarily, we need qualified arc welders, assemblers of shipboard systems, crane operators and chippers", she said.

This is the first large-scale recruitment in the recent 13 years. Last time Baltiysky Zavod recruited large number of workers in 1999 to build frigates for Indian Navy. But in recent years the shipyard being controlled by ex-senator Sergei Pugachev faced employment layoffs. The reasons were lack of orders, low wages, and regular ware arrears.

"Now all problems are in the past", says Alexander Voznesensky, Director General of Baltiysky Zavod Shipbuilding Ltd. "With attachment to United Shipbuilding Corporation, wages grown by 30% and by the year-end they will become one of the highest in our sector", he added.

Being almost tapped out in the last year, the shipyard's backlog of orders now has grown up to RUR 55 mln. Revenue of Baltiysky Zavod Shipbuilding Ltd in 2012 is evaluated as RUR 12.7 bln (in the last year – RUR 1.3 bln).

The company needs workers' arms and engineers' ideas to implement large state contracts, i.e. construction of a nuclear-powered 60-megawatt icebreaker for Atomflot and a diesel-electric 25-megawatt icebreaker for Rosmorport, completion of energy unit for the world's first floating nuclear power plant for Rosenergoatom. According to experts, unique expertise of the shipyard guarantees new contracts, growing wages, and an opportunity to develop qualification in Russian and international projects.

JSC United Shipbuilding Corporation is Russia's largest shipbuilding company. It was established by presidential decree in 2007 with 100% shares 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 industry. Although the company is oriented on Russian market, it exports production to 20 countries.

Baltiysky Zavod was established in 1856. The shipyard is specialized in warships, large-capacity civil vessels for various types of cargo, icebreakers (including nuclear-powered ones), ro-ro and ro-pax ships, chemical tankers, bulkers etc.