Steel cut for Sovcomflot icebreaker / supply vessel

The production of the icebreaking multipurpose supply vessel for Sovcomflot was started with steel cutting on 26 November 2014.

The ceremony took place at Vyborg Shipyard, where the blocks of the vessel are produced. The production start was attended by representatives from Sovcomflot, United Shipbuilding Corporation, Russian Maritime Register of Shipping, Vyborg Shipyard and Arctech Helsinki Shipyard.

The design, hull assembly, outfitting and commissioning of the vessel will be done by Arctech Helsinki Shipyard. The main purpose of the vessel is to serve Sakhalin-2 region energy production sites by transporting supplies and people between land bases and the production platforms in the harsh climatic areas of the Sea of Okhotsk. The operator of the oil and gas field is Sakhalin Energy Investment Company Ltd.

“We are excited to continue the co-operation with Sovcomflot and build this icebreaking supply vessel as the first unit of total four contracted vessels. Today, we are proud to start production of this multipurpose special vessel, which is a masterpiece by Arctech´s own engineers. The environmentally advanced vessel will increase both the oil spill response as well as the emergency evacuation capacity when operating in the harsh climatic area of Sakhalin,” says Esko Mustamäki, Managing Director of Arctech Helsinki Shipyard.

The vessel will be able to safely convey and transfer cargo on deck, bulk cargo underdeck and platform crew as passengers in all seasons, regardless of weather and ice conditions. The vessel will be outfitted for emergency evacuation, rescue and fire fighting operations, oil spill response and the platform support activities. The new icebreaking offshore vessel measures 100 m in length and 21 m in breadth. The six main diesel generator sets have the total power of 21 000 kW and the propulsion power of 13 000 kW. The delivery of the vessel is scheduled for June 2016.