Arctech Helsinki Shipyard News

Finnish companies have designed about 80 percent of the world’s icebreakers, and about 60 percent of them have been built by Finnish shipyards.Finland is home to a strong and vibrant maritime cluster, with a mix of large, medium and small shipyards, as well as a deep pool of marine engineering expertise and a broad network of vessel equipment suppliers.As one of the world’s northernmost countries, Finland is also home to a fleet of icebreakers that keep imports and exports flowing through its harbors, even during the coldest winter months.

This article will focus on U.S. sanctions on Russia/Ukraine. The Russia/Ukraine sanctions program is a complex mix of comprehensive, noncomprehensive and “sectoral” sanctions. It includes both primary sanctions aimed at U.S. persons and secondary sanctions aimed at non-U.S. persons. It encompasses broad sectors of the Russian economy and significant dealings with sanctioned individuals and entities, while generally permitting most transactions with Russia. Accordingly, it stands alone in U.S.

The acquisition of the current Arctech Helsinki Shipyard in Finland will be finalized in May, the involved parties say, having agreed to transaction terms on May 9.In preparation for the closing, current owner Arctech Helsinki Shipyard Oy (AHS) said it has established a new company, Helsinki Shipyard Oy, which will receive the transferred assets and operations from AHS and continue shipbuilding at the shipyard. AHS will then sell 100% of Helsinki Shipyard Oy’s shares to Algador Holdings Ltd.…

A ceremony raising the flag of the Russian Federation and naming a new multifunctional icebreaking platform supply vessel, Yevgeny Primakov, took place on February 3, 2018 in Saint Petersburg. The vessel was built by Arctech Helsinki Shipyard, a subsidiary of the United Shipbuilding Corporation; technical supervision was carried out by the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS), which assigned the vessel a high ice class – Icebreaker6. Yevgeny Primakov’s design and construction…

Russian state-owned United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) is looking for a new owner for its Arctech Helsinki shipyard as sanctions against the holding company hamper business, the head of the shipyard said on Tuesday. The shipyard is the world’s biggest builder of vessels that can navigate ice-covered waters, and it has expected more orders as melting sea ice opens the Arctic to more shipping, mining and oil drilling. However, following the Ukraine crisis and back-to-back East-West sanctions, Russian ownership has complicated the shipyard’s access to finance.

Russia’s PAO Sovcomflot (SCF Group) currently operates 10 vessels that serve the Sakhalin-2 project, including three oil tankers, two liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers and five icebreaking supply and standby vessels. Its latest addition to this specialized fleet, a newly built multifunctional icebreaking standby vessel (IBSBV), was formally named Fedor Ushakov at a ceremony on October 11. The vessel is the third in a series of four IBSBVs purpose-designed for operating in the…

MELCAL said it has received a new contract from Arctech Helsinki Shipyard for the design and production of two ATEX Zone 1, IIB T3 cranes to be installed onboard an icebreaking arctic tanker. The hose handling cranes will feature heated cabins and are designed to handle both cargo hoses and bunker fuel hoses, as well as provisions and engine spares. In man-riding mode, the cranes are also suitable for safe lifting of personnel. Designed to work in an extreme ambient temperature of - 50°C…

Ecoship, a revolutionary new cruise liner set to feature the latest innovations in renewable energy usage, has been designed by specialist naval design and architecture firm Oliver Design, working from Getxo, Spain. The design was commissioned by Peace Boat, a Japanese NGO nominated for the 2008 Nobel Peace Prize and the promoter behind this ambitious project to design and build the high-range eco-friendly cruise ship. The Spanish firm has been working on the project since 2012 and has now completed the full architectural design of the ship…

Valmet said it has been awarded a contract to supply automation for an arctic icebreaking tanker to be built by Arctech Helsinki Shipyard Inc. in Finland. The tanker (NB 515) is designed by Arctech and measures 229 m in length and 32.5 m in breadth. It will be built to ice class of Arc 7 and can reliably break ice almost two meters thick. The vessel will be tasked with transporting gas condensate year-round from the Yamal Peninsula to Europe and Asia, able to operate independently in the demanding ice conditions of the Northern Sea Route.

Japanese cruise organization Peace Boat has signed a letter of intent (LOI) with the Finnish shipbuilding company Arctech Helsinki Shipyard Inc. Peace Boat director and founder Yoshioka Tatsuya, Esko Mustamaki, CEO from Arctech and Jon Rysst, Regional Manager North Europe, from Classification Society DNV GL, announced the agreement during Nor-Shipping. Yoshioka said, "We have agreed with Arctech to build the Ecoship, the most innovative and ecologically friendly cruise vessel ever.

Built by Arctech Helsinki Shipyard, the Russian flagged Gennadiy Nevelskoy (deadweight 3,000 metric tons) will home port in Saint Petersburg and was commissioned by SCF under a long-term agreement with Sakhalin Energy. She is the first of four vessels for operations at the Sakhalin-2 project; the other three are ice-breaking standby vessels (IBSBVs) that have a smaller deadweight (2,000 metric tons), but offer enhanced functionality and a higher people-on-board capacity. The agreement between Sovcomflot and Sakhalin Energy…

Since it started publishing in 1939, Maritime Reporter & Engineering News has recognized excellence in ship construction. Owner: Arctia Icebreaking Ltd. Arctech Helsinki Shipyard delivered the most powerful newcomer in the Finnish Icebreaker fleet, Polaris, to the Finnish Transport Agency. The Finnish Transport Agency handed the vessel over to Arctia Icebreaking Oy. The prototype vessel built at Helsinki Shipyard is designed to serve for at least 50 years in icebreaking, oil recovery and sea rescue ops.

Maritime Reporter & Engineering News (www.marinelink.com), published since 1939, annually publishes details on the world’s “Great Ships of the Year.” Of the 18 selected as “Great Ships of 2016,” here we rank the Top 10 Ships of 2016, according to the editors of Maritime Reporter & Engineering News. Why: Second in series of the world’s first LNG powered containerships. Shipyard: Philly Shipyard Inc. Owner  Reliance Industries Ltd. Owner: Arctia Icebreaking Ltd.

Arctech Helsinki Shipyard delivered the most powerful newcomer in the Finnish Icebreaker fleet, icebreaker Polaris, to the Finnish Transport Agency on September 28th, 2016. The Finnish Transport Agency handed the vessel over to Arctia Icebreaking Oy. The prototype vessel built at Helsinki Shipyard is designed to serve for at least 50 years in icebreaking, oil recovery and sea rescue operations. Previous time an Finnish icebreaker with similar size range was completed in year 1994.

On June 30, 2016 a new icebreaking supply vessel (IBSV) was launched for Sovcomflot as part of a long-term agreement with Sakhalin Energy. Due to be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2016, this reinforced ice class vessel has deadweight of 3,000 metric tons and an Azipod propulsion system with a power rating of 13 MW. The icebreaker is the first of four vessels that Sovcomflot has on order from United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) for operations at the Sakhalin-2 project. The vessels are being constructed by USC-affiliated shipyards Vyborg Shipyard and Arctech Helsinki Shipyard Oy. The construction of all four vessels began in 2015.

Icebreaker Murmansk was delivered December 25, 2015 at a ceremony hosted by Vyborg Shipyard PJSC (a corporate member of the United Shipbuilding Corporation). The icebreaker was built by Vyborg Shipyard PJSC in collaboration with Arctech Helsinki Shipyard, by order of Federal Agency of Maritime and River Transport of Russian Federation. The acceptance document was signed by the top management of FSUE Rosmorport, United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC), Vyborg Shipyard PJSC. Under the terms of contract signed in 2012…

Construction on the hull of an icebreaking multipurpose supply vessel for Sovcomflot began today at the Arctech Helsinki shipyard with a keel laying ceremony. The vessel is the first in a series of four icebreaking sister ships ordered by Sovcomflot, Russia’s largest shipping company. The vessel’s first block, which weighs 221 tons, was placed in the building dock, signaling the starting point of the hull assembly. The vessel, which will measure 100 meters in length and 21 meters in breadth, will be capable of breaking through ice even as thick as 1.5 meters and will be outfitted for emergency evacuation, rescue and fire fighting operations, oil spill response and platform support activities.

A naming ceremony was held today for Finland’s new-generation icebreaker, Polaris, built at Arctech Helsinki Shipyard. Presently under construction at Helsinki Shipyard, the vessel is designed especially for icebreaking operations in the Baltic Sea and will be fitted for oil recovery and emergency towing. The nearly 110-meter-long vessel’s design and construction features various Finnish technological innovations, such as ice-strengthened propulsion units and an effective oil recovery system integrated into the hull. Furthermore, the icebreaker will be powered by both diesel and liquefied natural gas (LNG) to reduce both carbon emissions and fuel costs, making Polaris the most environmentally friendly icebreaker in the world, according to its builders.

A spectacular ceremony was held on the lead vessel of the icebreaker project 21900M in St. Petersburg on 23 September, forming part of the NEVA 2015 Programme. Guests and dignitaries came together to witness the official flag-raising ceremony on board the icebreaker 'Vladivostok' and to celebrate all those involved in the project. The diesel-powered icebreakers 21900M project, a modification of project 21900, was laid down at the Vyborg Shipyard in October 2012. 'Vladivstok' is the lead vessel in the series of three diesel-electric icebreakers built for FSUE Rosmorport and classed by the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping. Vyborg Shipyard PJSC is one of the largest shipbuilding companies of the North-Western Region of Russia…

The 16 MW Icebreaker for the Russian Ministry of Transport was launched at Arctech Helsinki Shipyard on March 25th, 2015. Before floating the vessel, she was given the name ceremonially by breaking of a champagne bottle on the bow of the vessel. The ship was named by the Godmother of the vessel Marina Vasilyevna Kovtun, the Governor of the Murmansk Region, who wished the best of luck for the Murmansk icebreaker. The vessel being built at Arctech belongs to the series of three new buildings ordered by the Russian Ministry of Transport from Vyborg Shipyard. The basic design and purchasing of major components will be provided by Vyborg Shipyard as well as 40% of the vessels hull blocks. Arctech will be responsible for the construction, outfitting and commissioning of the vessel.

Innovation, superior technology and competitiveness are the characteristics that have brought the Finnish maritime industry world repute. Its well-knit maritime cluster responsible for achieving a high level of production has propelled it into prominence in the global market. Extreme conditions during winter have set technological and quality demands on Finnish shipping which, in turn has contributed towards the emergence of a competitive maritime industry in Finland. The Finnish Maritime and Offshore Cluster (incl. Marine industries, shipping and port operations in private and public sectors) is one of the central industries in the Finnish technology industries.

Sovcomflot (SCF Group) and Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS) have taken steps to make the Russian fleet more competitive. In 2014, 10 SCF Group vessels were transferred to the RS class, meaning that it is now responsible for the survey of 40 Sovcomflot ships in total. These include the very latest Atlanticmax LNG carriers, multi-purpose icebreaking supply vessels, crude oil tankers, chemical carriers and tugs. In order to satisfy the increasing requirements of large-scale oil and gas projects on Russia’s continental shelf, Sovcomflot plans to expand its fleet of specialized and technically advanced vessels operating under the flag of the Russian Federation, whilst continuing to develop mutually-beneficial partnerships with Russian Maritime Register of Shipping.

Arctech Helsinki Shipyard is now 100 percent Russian-owned as United Shipbuilding Corporation bought the remaining half of the company’s shares from STX Finland Oy. Arctech Helsinki Shipyard Inc. was founded in December 2010 as United Shipbuilding Corporation bought the first 50 percent of the shipyard shares from STX Finland, a subsidiary of the Korean-owned STX Europe. The joint venture was established to respond to the need of growing market of Arctic shipbuilding and to unite the Finnish and Russian maritime clusters.