P.P.Shirshov Institute of Oceanology set to sign contract with Vyborg Shipyard on construction of two research ships of Damen design
P.P.Shirshov Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IO RAS) is set to sign a contract for construction of two scientific research ships within two months, Aleksey Sokov, Doctor of Geographic, Acting Director of IO RAS, said at the ‘Arctic: Territory of Dialogue’ International Arctic Forum when answering the question of IAA PortNews correspondent.
“We have come to an agreement with USC and we are ready to place the order at Vyborg Shipyard, - he said. – We would like to have ships built to the project of Damen and we discussed it with Aleksey L’vovich (Aleksey Rakhmanov – Ed.). Yet, USC insists on the design by Almaz.
Aleksey Sokov emphasized that the state programme named “Science” and supervised by the Ministry of Education and Science foresees the construction of two research vessels (RV) by 2024. The deadline is fixed. Therefore, no more than two months have been left to sign a contract. “If we do not start the construction of ships in May 2019, if we do not sign the contract, we will not have it finished by 2024. June is a deadline, - said Aleksey Sokov. – A rough design should be available and a shipyard should be selected by the moment of contract signing. Detailed design is to be ready by the end of 2019 and the construction should be started from the beginning of 2020.”
When speaking with journalists at the ‘Arctic: Territory of Dialogue’ forum, USC head Aleksey Rakhmanov said that United Shipbuilding Corporation has started designing a scientific research ship for IO RAS at its own expense hoping to sign a contract in the nearest future.
“We are in a dialogue with the Institute. Our proposal on application of a two-phase construction of sophisticated ships has been finally heard, - explained Aleksey Rakhmanov when answering the question of IAA PortNews correspondent. – First, a design is needed and suppliers are to be selected. Then we negotiate the construction cost and time. If we do not follow this two-phase process we are going disappoint the customer again.
Damen, which announced the beginning of the project on localization of its manufacture in the Russian Federation last year, takes part in the exhibition in the framework of ‘Arctic: Territory of Dialogue’ International Arctic Forum presenting a scientific research ship being currently built by Damen Shipyards Galati in Romania for an Australian customer.
P.P.Shirshov Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IO RAS) is the largest Russian research center in the field of oceanology. IO RAS is conducting large-scale research in the Global Ocean including the North and South Atlantic, Baltic Sea and Arctic seas. It is involved in scientific research in the sphere of physics, geology, ecology and marine facilities. IO RAS is an operator of Russia’s entire scientific research fleet.
Related links:
Damen presents Arctic shipbuilding at ‘Arctic: Territory of Dialogue’ forum >>>>
Aleksey Sokov: “We are the largest research fleet owner in the country” >>>>
