Russia: Sevmash Shipyard Celebrates 72-nd Anniversary

The largest Russian shipyard and the only company building nuclear-powered submarines – JSC Sevmash celebrates 72-nd anniversary since the day of foundation.

In 1939, the shipyard called 402-nd Plant laid down the first hull – battleship Sovetskaya Belorussia. During the Great Patriotic War the yard repaired Northern Fleet’s warships and transport vessels of Arctic Convoys, and manufactured munitions.

In total, since 1939 Sevmash shipyard has built 45 surface ships, 166 submarines including 131 nuclear-powered ones. Besides, the yard modernizes large-size surface ships and builds unique floating installations for civilian orderers.

Now the shipyard builds fourth-generation nuclear submarines. Lead sub of Project 955 Borei – SSBN Yury Dolgoruky – is completing state trials. The next submarine of this project is SSBN Alexander Nevsky; she has started sea trials. Third Borei-class sub – SSBN Vladimir Monomakh – was laid down on March 19, 2006 and is under construction now.

Project 885 Yasen newest nuclear-powered attack submarine Severodvinsk has started first phase of sea trials. Second sub of this project – SSGN Kazan – is being currently built. Signing of package defense contracts was held in Nov 2011 in the presence of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin; those documents will keep the yard busy by 2020. It is expected that a contract on two diesel electric submarines for Russian Navy would be signed early next year.

Sevmash actively cooperates with foreign countries. Modernization of former Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov for Indian Navy (INS Vikramaditya) has entered closing stage. In 2005, two diesel electric submarines were built for China under the contract with FSUE Rosoboronexport.

Manufacturing of civil-oriented products is primarily related to large-scale projects of oil and gas developments on Arctic shelf. At present, the yard employs over 26,000 shipwrights

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Naval Today Staff, December 23, 2011; Image: sevmash