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Ceremony of keel-laying of Icebreaker project 21900M at Vyborg Shipyard
On 17th October 2012 the keel-laying ceremony of the prototype diesel-powered sea-going icebreaker project 21900M rated power 16 MW ordered by Federal agency of marine and river transport took place at Vyborg Shipyard JSC.
General director of Vyborg Shipyard Alexander Solovyev gave a warm welcome to the honorary guests. In his speech he mentioned that the shipyard had gone through two hard years, but now again facing the future with confidence: «We’ve managed to maintain the highly professional team and I believe it will be our ticket for success in realization of the new icebreaking program. The more so, the shipyard production program is in line with the general tendency of the shipbuilding industry. Not further than last week it was declared that Russia needs new types of vessels and offshore platforms to expand the presence of our country in the Arctic region. And I would like to assure all that we’ll successfully fulfill this order providing development of shipbuilding industry of Russia and securing our presence in the Arctic seas».
The deputy minister of transport of the Russian Federation Victor Olersky took part in the ceremony: «In spite of the fact that many people speak about the crisis capacities of our ports are constantly growing, and as result the need for providing fleet with new vessels is also growing. Federal program makes provision for building about 30 icebreakers and more than 230 tankers by 2030. I wish you to manage successfully with this order. Today it is especially important as activity of shipyards is important more than ever. We’ll have to determine the strongest enterprises which will be capable to accommodate new orders in the near future».
The keel-laying ceremony was also attended by vice-governor of Leningrad region Georgy Bogachev, representatives of USC JSC, Executive office of the plenipotentiary of the President of the Russian Federation at Northwest Federal district, Federal agency of marine and river transport, FSUE "Rosmorport". After welcome addresses the keel sections of the future icebreaker went through the ceremony of blessing and the keel-laying board was attached.
The keel-laying ceremony for the second icebreaker project 21900M is planned at Vyborg Shipyard at the end of the year 2012.