Samsung Heavy, Zvezda ink on Arctic shipbuilding

South Korean Samsung Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. and Zvezda Shipbuilding Complex have signed a Term Sheet for creating a joint venture (JV) to manage projects for construction of Arctic shuttle tankers.

The purpose of the established JV is the technological support for the construction of Arctic shuttle tankers at Zvezda Shipbuilding Complex of various sizes with deadweight from 42 to 120 thousand tons.

Tankers will be used for the export of oil produced at the fields of Rosneft, as well as for other Russian and foreign producers.

    “Cooperation with Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) will facilitate development of advanced shipbuilding technologies at Zvezda Shipbuilding Complex,” Rosneft noted in an official statement.

What is more, Zvezda Shipbuilding Complex also signed an agreement with French Engineering GTT, on technical evaluation of the potential of Shipbuilding Complex for construction of membrane systems for LNG storage with further acquisition of the GTT license for gas-carrier construction.

The agreement envisages technical assessment of the shipyard according to GTT standards and development of the action plan that will let master the production of membrane type liquefied gas storage systems. After training of staff responsible for implementation of the project, Zvezda Shipbuilding Complex will fabricate full-scale model of GTT storage system and the French engineering company will be able to take decision about providing the shipyard with certification.

Zvezda Shipbuilding Complex plans to launch production of gas carrier vessels which are unique for Russia. Their construction is one of the priorities of the production program of the shipyard.