First steel cutting ceremony for the second Aframax-class tanker of 114,000 deadweight tons took place at Zvezda shipyard in Bolshoy Kamen, Primorsky Region. The ceremony was attended by Rosneft Oil Company CEO Igor Sechin and Acting Governor of Primorsky Region, Oleg Kozhemyako.
The ceremony signaled the beginning of serial manufacturing at Zvezda shipyard of modern heavy-tonnage vessels for crude oil and products transportation. Aframax tankers will be the first vessels of such type built in the Russian Federation. Lead tanker launching is scheduled for 2020.
The lead vessel keel was laid in open-air heavy filling-out ways on September 11, 2018, as part of the visit to Zvezda shipyard of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin.
The first steel sheets were cut by high precision plasma gas cutting machine. The most advanced shipyard in Russia is equipped with high-tech machining techniques that allow using high precision methods of metal marking, welding and cutting, including laser. To build the vessels, inspection technologies are used based on noncontact measurements and 3D-modeling, modern technologies that allow controlling operations at all stages, from documentation development to vessel commissioning.
As part of the visit to the shipyard, Igor Sechin and Oleg Kozhemyako watched the operation of hull production block equipment, observed the open-air heavy fitting-out dock, construction sites of the dry dock and of the Sapphire Pod Drive Plant. The Company CEO and the regional Governor gave special attention to the construction projects of housing blocks for the shipyard personnel.
According to Igor Sechin, the launch of Aframax-type vessels has particular importance for the whole country.
"The construction of a modern shipyard of large-capacity shipbuilding is carried out on the basis of the President's instructions. The project involves the construction of production facilities of the Zvezda shipbuilding complex, associated engineering infrastructure and housing for employees. The first part of the shipyard's production capacity was put into operation in 2016-2017. The largest dry dock in Russia is being built a year ahead of schedule. Rosneft provided pilot loading of the new shipbuilding complex by signing contracts for the construction of 25 vessels," - Igor Sechin said.
The chief Executive officer also stressed that the launch of Aframax-type vessels is not only an indicator of the growth of technological, production, personnel potential of the shipbuilding industry, but also a matter of national security and independence.
The acting Governor of Primorsky Region Oleg Kozhemyako said that today's event is of great importance for Primorye: only three years after the launch of the project at Zvezda shipbuilding complex, they have already started mass production of Aframax tankers.
"This is a new era in shipbuilding. No one built such vessels in Russia. And, I am sure that shipbuilders will cope with all plans and schedules, will hand over the first vessel in time. And then there will be new orders, which will ensure revenues to the regional budget, create new jobs. Today we see the real work of the Zvezda shipyard and the company Rosneft, which allow us to cope with the instructions of the President of the Russian Federation", - said Kozhemyako.
