18.09.2008
The Arkhangelsk-based Zvezdochka shipyard might take over another two yards in Murmansk Oblast. In 2009, both the yard in Polyarny and Safonovo might be incorporated into the company.
The
Zvezdochka, a key unit in the federal Shipbuilding Corporation, now confirms that it might take over the Murmansk shipyards No 10 (Polyarny) and No 82 (Safonovo), Murmannews.ru reports. Both shipyards struggle with major debts
While the Safonovo yard, located just south of Severomorsk, has one of the most powerful and multipurpose dry docks in the region, the Polyarny yard (
Shkval) is first of all specialized in repairs of nuclear submarines. Both yards are military yards, which until now have been owned by the Navy.
From before, Zvezdochka controls the Murmansk yard No 35 (
Sevmorput).
It is expected that the take-over of the strategically important shipyards will significantly strengthen
Zvezdochka’s position in the upcoming oil and gas development in the region. The company intends to boost its oil and gas orders from today’s 15 percent of operations to 30 percent by 2011, company director Vladimir Nikitin says to Murman.ru.
In February this year, the yard signed a cooperation agreement with
Gazprom-subsidiary
Sevmorneftegaz over the modernization of the Murmansk shipyard No 35 (
Sevmorput) to the needs of the petroleum industry.
Source:
, photo: The Polyarny yard (bellona.no)
