Havyard to Construct New Icebreaker for Russia

Havyard has agreed a contract with the Russian shipping company FEMCO about design and construction of a Havyard 843 Ice, an icebreaking offshore vessel.

The vessel will be designed by Havyard Design & Solutions in Fosnavaag, Norway and is going to be constructed at Havyard Ship Technologỳ̀̀̀̀̀̀̀s shipyard in Leirvik in Sogn, Norway. The vessel will become newbuild no.122 and is due to be delivered in September 2015. The Russian shipping company has also secured an option for the construction of one further Havyard 843 Ice.

Experience with Russia and icebreakers

Havyard has gained good experience in constructing icebreakers for Russian shipowners. In 2006, Havyard delivered two icebreaking offshore vessels for the Russian shipping company Sevmorneftegaz (currently Gazprom Neft Shelf).

“The fact that we have experience in cooperating with Russian shipping companies and having already delivered similar vessels to Russia, were probably both important factors in getting this contract in competition with other European shipyards,” says Executive Vice President Sales Tor Leif Mongstad of Havyard Group. “We are among the shipyards in the world that have delivered most icebreaking offshore vessels. Havyard has previously constructed 7 icebreaking offshore vessels and this is a third of all the icebreakers that DnV has classified of this type worldwide.”

“Gaining this type of contract proves that we are competitive on price, delivery time and quality,” says Mongstad. 5 vessels constructed by Havyard are currently sailing under a Russian flag, included 2 AHTSs of a Havyard 842 design and the ice breaker “Vidar Viking”.

Great expectations for new design

Havyard 843 Ice is a new design from the Herøy-based design company Havyard Design & Solutions. The vessel is going to have DnV ice class Icebreaker Ice 10 and Winterized Cold (-30 °C). Amongst other things, the vessel can break ice that̀̀̀̀̀̀̀̀s more than 1 metre thick and has systems for avoiding icing of the vessel. The vessel is otherwise designed to carry out anchor handling, towing and standby operations for oil protection and rescue services.

“We also have great expectations towards the market that is opening up with major activity in Russian territories in the north and we believe this contract will make Havyard even more attractive for the Russian interests who are looking for this type of tonnage,” Mongstad continues. “With the new Havyard 843 Ice design, we have positioned ourselves well in order to compete for contracts that the market will offer in the future. We also have other icebreaking designs in our portfolio and we have the ability to quickly adapt our designs for whatever needs the customer may have.”

“We are well equipped to compete in this market and we think there may be similar contracts ahead, concludes a hopeful EVP Sales.”

Shipping company with ambitions

FEMCO Group was established in 2004 and is the only privately-owned company in Russia that has specialized in operating anchor-handling vessels. The company operates a fleet of 12 offshore vessels and with this latest Havyard order; they now have presently 5 newbuild orders at various shipyards.

FEMCO has varied experience in the operations of vessels both in tropical and arctic waters, and are used to meeting challenges in tough weather conditions and doing advanced operations. By contracting an icebreaking offshore vessel with Havyard now, it is part of a long-term fleet renewal strategy in order to offer services for the offshore oil activities in arctic areas.

In addition to their offshore fleet FEMCO also operates a fleet of dry-cargo vessels, some of these having ice class.

Plenty of work

With this one, Havyard Group has 8 newbuilds and a major conversion on order at the Leirvik shipyard in Sogn, Norway, with an order reserve in the business area of shipbuilding of just under NOK 3 billion. Like the other vessels being constructed at the shipyard, Havyard Design & Solutions deliver both design and detail engineering for the production of the vessel. In addition, Havyard Power & Systems based in Aalesund, will deliver electro engineering, automation- and alarm systems and Havyard Concept Bridge. Norwegian Electric Systems, where Havyard owns 40 % of the shares, will deliver electrical motors, generators and switchboards. The contract will also lead to extended effects within the maritime cluster in Western Norway, in the shape of equipment deliveries and services to the shipyard during construction of the vessel.