Fincantieri Nets Pair of Diverse Russian Contracts

During the Italy-Russia Business Forum in Trieste, Italy, Fincantieri secured a contract to build a semi-submersible floating platform for the transportation of nuclear submarine reactor compartments. The company also signed an agreement to define plans for an advanced technology offshore energy drill-ship.

Radio-acitve waste management liftboat contract
Fincantieri has been contracted by RosRAO, the Federal State Unitary Enterprise for radioactive waste management, to build a semi-submersible floating platform for the transportation of nuclear submarine reactor compartments. This platform will be built in the Group's Italian yards for delivery by the end of 2015; at 82 metres long and 27 metres wide, it will have a 3,000 ton displacement. It will be used to transport special material between the storage area and White Sea shipyards facing the Kola Peninsula.

Drill-ship design
Fincantieri say they will will work together with the Krylov State Research Centre on a project to develop a drill ship able to operate in particularly difficult conditions, in full respect of the environment and crew safety. This highly advanced vessel will be able to navigate in ice up to 1.5 metres thick and ambient temperatures of -40°C and will have a 4-month operational autonomy.

The company explains that this agreement is of great importance because the steady retreat of artic sea ice will allow access over the medium to long term to vast hydrocarbon reserves, of great interest to the major international oil companies. In fact, in the absence of appropriate technology, low temperatures and the presence of ice have been the major obstacles up until now to accessing these resources.

Giuseppe Bono, Fincantieri CEO, commented: "This day is doubly significant for us: not only has the alliance with our Russian friends been strengthened by the placing of a prestigious order, but the agreement signed today with Krylov launches the operational phase of our collaboration with this prestigious research institute. We’re ready to work together to harness the great potential in the oil & gas industry and in the cruise sector, which is looking towards new areas of development."