Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Zvezda Shipyard in the town of Bolshoi Kamen in Primorsky Territory. During the visit, the Head of the State took part in the naming ceremony of two reinforced ice-class vessels. The event was attended by Igor Sechin, Chief Executive Officer of Rosneft; Yury Trutnev, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation and Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District; and Sergey Tseluyko, General Director of Zvezda Shipyard, Rosneft said in a statement.
The unique shuttle tanker built by order of Rosnefteflot was named in honor of Valentin Pikul, a famous Soviet writer and author of numerous works of fiction on historical and naval subjects. Elena Serova, pilot-cosmonaut, a native of Primorsky Territory and a Hero of the Russian Federation, became the ship’s godmother. The vessel is intended for oil transportation and capable of navigating the waters of the northern seas independently, without an icebreaker escort. The shuttle tanker is equipped with a bow loading gear for receiving oil directly from a fixed offshore ice-resistant terminal.
The LNG tanker built to the order of Sovcomflot was named after Alexey Kosygin, a prominent Soviet politician and statesman, twice Hero of Socialist Labor. Tatyana Kurleyeva, an Honored Doctor of the Russian Federation, Chief Doctor of the Primorsky Territory Perinatal Center, became the godmother of the vessel.
ARC 7 ice-class LNG tankers are designed to transport liquefied natural gas and are able to operate in harsh climatic conditions and overcome ice 2 meters thick. The vessel is propelled by three unique steerable thrusters, the production of which is localized in Bolshoi Kamen at Sapphire Pod Drive Plant. For many years, such types of vessels have been ordered exclusively abroad. Their construction is one of the most technologically complex processes in the global shipbuilding industry.
Vladimir Putin congratulated the plant employees and the crew of the new vessels.
During the visit, the President also familiarized himself with the construction progress of two ARC7 ice breaking LNG tankers, the hulls of which are currently being shaped in the dry dock. Vladimir Putin was also shown the “Vostochny Prospect” Aframax-type tanker, which is being prepared for the sea trials, a multifunctional supply vessel Svyataya Maria, as well as the “Ivan Aivazovsky” MR tanker and the “Pyotr Stolypin” gas carrier. Building ships of such types is a unique experience for the entire Russian shipbuilding industry.
In addition, the President also got acquainted with the construction progress of new facilities: five new workshops and three warehouse complexes, the total area of which exceeds 165 square meters. Workshops for primary processing of steel and rolled metal, cleaning and priming of metal sheets and profiles, cutting steel, curved and panel blocks will soon increase the technological capabilities of Zvezda Shipyard.
Photo: Kremlin press office