Baltiysky Zavod Shipyard Starts Cutting Metal for 25-mW Icebreaker

Baltiysky Zavod shipyard on March 26 started cutting metal for a 25-mW icebreaker valued at RUR 7.9 bln.

JSC Baltiysky Zavod – Shipbuilding began metal cutting for a Project 22600 new-generation multifunctional diesel-electric icebreaker LK-25. The keel laying is scheduled on June 22, 2012. The icebreaker must be delivered to the customer in 2015.

The ship’s orderer is Federal Marine and River Transport Agency. Project of the 25-mW icebreaker designed in 2008 will replace Ermak– and Kapitan Sorokin-class icebreakers (built in 1974 and 1977 respectively).

Shipbuilding contracts for 4 icebreakers (LK-25, LK-18 and two LK-16) to overall amount of RUR 20.4 bln were signed by United Shipbuilding Corporation and FSUE Rosmorport on Dec 2, 2011 in the presence of Russian premier Putin. Baltiysky Zavod was selected the manufacturer of icebreakers LK-25 and LK-18.

JSC Baltiysky Zavod – Shipbuilding (BZS) is an affiliate of United Shipbuilding Corporation. The company was founded late in 2011 in order to save labor collective and production expertise of Baltiysky Zavod shipyard which was bankrupted at the time of previous owner. In Jan 2012, most of employees of JSC Baltiysky Zavod enrolled in BZS. Due to that, the company is not only completing contracts in hand but draws new ones.

Baltiysky Zavod was established in 1856. The shipyard is specialized in construction of warships, large-size civil cargo vessels, and icebreakers (nuclear-powered and diesel-electric ones).

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Naval Today Staff , March 28, 2012; Image: narod