Finland: Arctech Starts Construction of 2nd Supply Vessel for Sovcomflot

Arctech Starts Construction of 2nd Supply Vessel for Sovcomflot

Arctech Helsinki Shipyard Inc. started the production of second icebreaking supply vessel for Russian shipping company Sovcomflot at the Helsinki Shipyard 2 November 2011. Both vessels will be delivered in April 2013.

The main purpose for the vessels is to supply the Arkutun-Dagi oil and gas production platform of Exxon Neftegas Limited in the Sakhalin area in Far East Russia. Production of the first vessel was started at Vyborg Shipyard in July 2011 and now the production of the sister vessel was started in Helsinki. 37 of the hull blocks of the vessels will be assembled at Vyborg Shipyard and and five in Helsinki. Most part of the hull production will be done as subcontracting work in Vyborg because the steel production in Helsinki was closed down in 2003. ”At Arctech we are more concentrated on the project management, design, hull assembly, outfitting and implementation”, says Esko Mustamäki, the Managing Director of Arctech Helsinki Shipyard.

Cooperation with the Russian Owner Is about to Become More Active

After the start of production Arctech Helsinki Shipyard employs almost 300 people. The whole staff, about 400 employees, will be at work by February 2012. During the past year Arctech has recruited about 40 new white-collars to strengthen its own design unit. “The next recruitments will centre on the blue-collar workers, to whom we will have work next winter and spring”, says Juha Sinkkonen, the Shipyard Director of Arctech Helsinki Shipyard.

The cooperation between Arctech Helsinki Shipyard and its Russian owner United Shipbuilding Corporation is about to become more active. An On-Site Training programme for the Russian workers will start at Helsinki Shipyard in February 2012. “At first the aim is to organise an on-the-job training period for about 100 workers. During the training the workers will get familiar with Finnish shipbuilding practise, occupational safety and working methods”, Mr. Sinkkonen adds.

”The on-the-job training enhances our cooperation with Russian shipyards, as our practises become more familiar to them. In the future we will be needing good partners to outsource the hull production”, says Mr. Mustamäki.

[mappress]
Source: Arctech, November 3, 2011