Solemn keel-laying ceremony of the first out of three Project 21900M diesel-electric open sea icebreakers (16 megawatt) will take place at Vyborg Shipyard on Oct 17. The ceremony will be attended by Deputy Minister of Transport V.A. Olersky, Governor of Leningrad region A.Y. Drozdenko, representatives of presidential administration, Federal Marine and River Transport Agency, Rosmorport, and JSC United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC).
The icebreaker will be constructed by the order of Federal Marine and River Transport Agency. According to the contract, the lead ship must be delivered to the client in May 2015.
"This order is essential for the shipyard. Thanks to this contract, the yard will finally emerge from crisis and get stable position at the shipbuilding market. It is no mere chance that the series of open-water icebreakers will be built by Vyborg Shipyard", explained the company director Alexander Solovyov. "Through its history, the shipyard has built several batches of ice-class timber pallet carriers capable to break through 0.8-meter thick ice. In addition, the shipyard has manufactured hull sections for two icebreaking supply ships being built by Finnish Arctech. Those vessels can work in 1.5-meter thick ice. Therefore, our shipyard is experienced in production of cold resistant steel needed for building icebreakers", he concluded.
Project 21900M diesel-electric open sea icebreaker is capable to break through 1.5-meter thick ice. Its main purpose is ice escort of large-tonnage vessels, towage, fire extinguishing of floating assets and coastal structures, rendering assistance to distressed ships, and cargo transportation. Displacement at maximum draft is 14,317 tons; length is 119.8 meters; beam is 27.5 meters.
JSC Vyborg Shipyard is one of the largest shipbuilding companies in Northwest Russia. Since its foundation in 1948, the shipyard has built over 200 vessels with overall displacement about 1,550,000 tons.
In May 2012, JSC Vyborg Shipyard joined United Shipbuilding Corporation.
Today, the shipyard employs over 1,300 persons and gradually develops to meet global shipbuilding standards. Wide investment program was kicked off at the shipyard in order to modernize production capacities.