First Mistral Laid Down at Baltiysky Zavod Shipyard

01.10.2012 Hull of the first Russian Mistral-class amphibious assault ship was laid down at Baltiysky Zavod shipyard on Oct 1, 2012. Baltiysky Zavod Shipbuilding Ltd laid a keel for the ship named Vladivostok accurate to the construction schedule.

At 2 pm, the first hull section of the ship was put on the slipway "A". First stage of the construction process has been done and then accepted by the orderer, French company STX France represented by the Mistral project deputy director.

Metal cutting for the first out of two Mistral-class ships started at Baltiysky Zavod on Aug 1, 2012. It is planned to begin metal cutting for the second ship named Sevastopol in May 2013.

"This contract is very important for us", comments Alexander Voznesensky, director general of Baltiysky Zavod Shipbuilding Ltd. "Take note, money is not the question. The main thing is that the contract is supervised by Russian government's military industrial committee. It is important for us to show at the federal level that the shipyard has kept its expertise, and we do meet even the most strict requirements of French partners", Voznesensky said.

Baltiysky Zavod Shipbuilding Ltd manufactures floating parts of hulls for the first two Mistral-class amphibious assault ships.

Russian Rosoboronexport and French DCNS signed the contract for first two ships in June 2011. United Shipbuilding Corporation is involved as subcontractor of French shipyard STX France located in Saint-Nazaire. Baltiysky Zavod will construct 24 hull sections (stern parts of two ships) which is about 40 per cent of hulls.

Then the sections will be sent to France for final assembling. The first ship is supposed to join Russian Navy in 2015.

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 by an Englishman named Mark McFerson. Through 150-year history, the shipyard was privatized several times, but having faced financial problems, it was nationalized again. 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 Baltiysky Zavod Shipbuilding Ltd 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.