Putin ordered to hand over two shipyards to USC

21.04.2010 Russian premier Vladimir Putin ordered to transfer two ship-repair yards (No. 10 and No. 82) located in Murmansk region into ownership of United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) till June 15. At present, the yards report to Russian defense ministry, informed REGNUM referring to the Russian government's press service.

Putin charged defense ministry and USC to adopt plan of production unification and restructuring. According to the Russian government's press service, the Prime Minister noted that USC-led shipyards "Nerpa" and No. 35 had completed the year of 2009 with 700 mln-1,4 bln RUR income and had already formed backlog of orders for 2010.

In the same time yards No. 10 and No. 82 which are under defense ministry's supervision have not signed contracts for 2010 having wage arrears of 130 mln RUR and 18 mln RUR respectively.

Putin insisted to form backlog of orders and settle wage arrears within a week.

As is known, it is not the first time these shipyards have problems with payment of salary. For instance, in 2002 to pay salary for the staff, directors of ship repair yard No. 82 had to pawn floating dock PD-50; by the way, at that time salvaged SSN Kursk was stored in that dock.

Reference

JSC United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) is Russian state holding company established in 2007. This state corporation is intended for promoting development of various industry branches. According to the presidential decree, USC would comprise all state shipbuilding assets – federal state unitary enterprises upon corporization and state shareholdings of large private shipyards.