Icebreaker production starts in Helsinki

The two ships will supply the Arkutun-Dagi oil and gas production platform of Exxon Neftegas in the Sakhalin area of Russia. Production of the first vessel was started at Vyborg Shipyard in July 2011 and production of the sister vessel has begun in Helsinki. 37 of the hull blocks of the vessels will be assembled at Vyborg Shipyard and five in Helsinki. The reason for mpst of the hull modules being built at Vyborg is that teel 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, managing director of Arctech Helsinki Shipyard.

Arctech Helsinki Shipyard says that cooperation with its Russian part-owner United Shipbuilding Corporation is “about to become more active”. An on-site training programme for the Russian workers will start at Helsinki in February 2012, with the aim of familiarising them with Finnish shipbuilding practices, occupational safety and working methods, with the aim of outsourcing more hull work to Russia. Arctech is jointly owned by STX and United.