Principal enterprise of Baltiysk resumes production

24.05.2010 There has been a productive stagnation at the main enterprise of Baltiysk for the last two years. Workers even arranged rallies demanding to redeem wage arrears. Things have changed several months ago. Yantar shipyard won a tender on serious defense orders and handed them over to 33rd ship repair plant.

A plant is alive when machines make noise. This music plays in workshops of 33rd ship repair plant only a few recent months, after two years of silent hopelessness. Defense order saves the yard from inevitable downfall.

As says Valery Gordeev, mill operator: "We've got plenty of orders. Mostly, they are military – landing ships, some ships of Kaliningrad port. The yard is loaded, so the money will come for sure".

The contract of repairing four coast guard ships has brought 25 mln RUR to the yard. Average wages increased at once. Since 33rd plant can not compete in tenders, it owes its orders to Yantar shipyard. Yantar does need such strategic partner; now the shipyard is able to execute weighty orders – from building of key-ready ships to repair of any complexity.

"Professionals remained, but we need "wheelhorses"; primarily, lathe operators and ship-repairmen. We cooperate with employment services. Candidates come, but now we select carefully", said Leonid Shinkarevich, acting Director General of 33rd ship repair plant.

The yard's harbor looks sad against the background of production revival. But, as say directors, the progress will come here, too. It is planned to build up-to-date pier for luxury yachts, and that would mean additional income to the plant's budget.