OREANDA-NEWS. On 28 May 2009 was announced, that Italian company Saipem is going to build Mining vessel at Sevmash.

Italian Company Saipem a.s. is a General Contractor for the conceptual design and construction of the mining vessel to operate at Shtokman gas condensate field. When visiting Sevmash the foreigners examined the main shops, hydroelectric installation and outfitting quay enterprises and gave a positive assessment of the plant potential.

At the last negotiations the parties discussed the joint work on realization of mining ship project. They decided that it is necessary to create a working group which will prepare proposals for the construction of the vessel at Sevmash. As explained by Thierry de l,Olnua, the Vice-President of Saipem sa Company, the scope of work for this project significantly exceeds that of the previous projects implemented by Sevmash, besides substantial upgrading of the production facilities is required: increasing of crane equipment capacity, modernization of hydroelectric installation. Valery Borodin, the Deputy Director General for marine engineering production and civil shipbuilding of Sevmash, added that the enterprise will be reconstructed at the cost of financing received for the construction project, as well as from OAO "Gazprom" and the Government of the Russian Federation according to the federal programs of civil shipbuilding development. Participation in this project will allow Sevmash to perform such an upgrading of the facilities, which will increase the enterprise competitiveness for the construction of large vessels and offshore equipment in future.