The Vyborg Shipyard is one of the largest shipbuilding enterprises in the north-western part of Russia. It was established in November 1948.
Over its 60-year history, the facility has changed its core activity more than once. It produced various types of ships and watercraft from barges and low-tonnage vessels to tank-landing ships, rescue vessels and the chemical defense vessels of the Navy's auxiliary fleet as well as a large number of civilian transport vessels.
With its high degree of mechanisation and automation, it was able to produce 8-10 vessels a year which was about 5% of the annual output of civilian ships by the Shipbuilding Ministry.
A milestone in the history of the Vyborg Shipyard occurred in 1978 when it was named the main company for manufacturing equipment for offshore development, primarily of various drilling platforms.
In the 14 years that followed the Vyborg Shipyard was involved in building 10 semi-submerged shelf drilling rigs. Four rigs were built on a turnkey basis and six rigs were built on the Caspian Sea with the shipyard's participation at about 40%. Two self-lifting drilling rigs and seven surface structures of stationary drilling platforms were delivered.
The privatisation of the plant was a complicated period and to stay afloat the plant turned to Western companies for help. Investments from the Norwegian concern Kwaerner AS helped the enterprise to avoid bankruptcy. The enterprise became completely privately owned by late 1996. And in July 1997 it became part of the Norwegian concern under the name Kwaerner-Vyborg Werf. The plant thus became integrated in the Western economy and was exposed to world market fluctuations. The problems faced by the owner led to the sale of 13 shipyards, including the one in Vyborg. After prolonged negotiations, the Vyborg shipyard was sold to the Russian company AKO BARSS (St Petersburg). At the time the shipyard was producing products ranging from trawlers and tugs to drilling platforms and coastguard speedboats.
In September 2007, AKO BARSS transferred its controlling stake to a group of individuals who are the current owners of Vyborg Shipyard. In the very first meeting of shareholders, the decision was made to have its core activity shifted to the production of platforms and vessels for the gas and oil industry. At present, the enterprise mainly builds platforms for offshore drilling and support vessels for the platforms.
Among its customers are such enterprises as Sevmorneftegaz, Gazflot, and Sea Dragon Offshore.
The enterprise is currently building one of two semi-submerged drilling rigs for Gazflot. It will be a turnkey project as part of the programme to develop the Shtokman gas condensate deposits for Gazprom. The first rig will be delivered in 2010 and the second in 2011. The project uses the MOSS CS-50 platform designed for operation in the northern seas.
The company is also filling orders for the residential module of the superstructure of the ice resistant stationary platform Prirazlomnaya commissioned by Sevmorneftegaz. The Vyborg shipyard will develop the technical and working design and complete all building work before delivering the project. The cost of the project is about $40 million. Part of the work in assembling the residential module on the platform and the startup work will be carried out at Sevmash. In 2006, an auxiliary systems module for the Prirazlomnaya platform was delivered to Sevmashpredpriyatie.
Under the contract signed between Sea Horse Ventures and the Vyborg Shipyard in March 2007, the shipyard is building a multipurpose CS50 platform with a free deck. It is a catamaran-type structure with two pontoons and six stabilising columns that support the upper body. The Vyborg shipyard delivered a similar platform back in 2002. The new platform is 90% complete and is scheduled to be delivered to the customer as early as December 2008, three months ahead of schedule.
The enterprise has a workforce of 1,600; however, its outdated production base makes it impossible to build modern vessels. The shareholders in Vyborg Shipyard take the plant's development seriously. They have an ambitious investment programme, approved by the board of directors, in which about $10 million will be invested in the plant's development in the next three years.
As early as November 2008, the so-called zero span, the line for cleaning and painting metal sheets and patterned sections, will be launched. Equipment worth about 1.5 million euros is scheduled to arrive from Germany any day now. The plant is preparing to install the equipment.
Experts believe that it will do wonders for the environment as the line releases almost no pollution.
About 3 million euros will be invested in building the painting and drying chamber for large parts. The foundation has been built, metal structures have been prepared, 100% of the equipment has been purchased and the line is to become operational by the end of the year.
In the next three years the enterprise will produce 60 billion roubles worth of equipment for the development of the Arctic continental shelf in accordance with its production programme.
The Vyborg Shipyard is a modern, vibrant, socially oriented enterprise with experience in commercial shipbuilding and a massive portfolio of orders.