Double Naming Ceremony of Russian Icebreakers

On Saturday a double naming ceremony took place at Havyard Ship Technology, for the two icebreaking offshore vessels delivered to the Russian shipping company Femco.

Femco Group is today the only privately-owned company in Russia specialising in operations of anchor handling vessels. The company has twelve offshore vessels with a long-term strategy of renewing its fleet. Last autumn, the icebreaking AHTS Aleut was delivered from Havyard Ship Technology. And now the two sister vessels Pomor and Normann are going to be delivered. Delivery time was an absolute requirement.

The two vessels will be providing Icebreaker escort together with Anchor-Handling, Towing and Supply services on the oilfields outside of Sakhalin. In order to get there, the vessels will embark on a voyage through The Northeast Passage, with its deadline before the arrival of winter. The vessels are going to be delivered on time, as agreed, and on Saturday celebrations include an open boat session and naming ceremony.

Unique icebreaking competence

With these ships, Havyard Ship Technology has delivered eleven larger icebreaking offshore vessels in total, and no shipyard in the world has equivalent experience with this type of ships. The shipyard has delivered one third of all the icebreakers that DNV has classified of this type.

Executive Vice President Lasse Stokkeland of Havyard Ship Technology, says this shows the Leirvik shipyard has knowledge and experience from constructions of a wide variety of ships.

“Now we can also go from large icebreaking offshore vessels to smaller workboats for the fish farming industry, and conversion of ferries from conventional to hybrid propulsion.”

The shipyard also displayed complex shipbuilding competence last year, with deliveries of five vessels in four different segments; one icebreaker, a live fish carrier, a purse seiner and a windfarm service vessel.

“These ships are all in operation and working excellently, according to feedback we receive from operators. Which again are the results and products of a stable workforce of experienced shipbuilders, who are able to enter new market segments, and capable of taking on several types of requirements.”

Furthermore, deliveries of these and previous icebreakers have given Havyard a good relation to the Russian market.

“We hope to further develop this relationship and our knowledge regarding construction of vessels for Arctic areas. We have the competence and technology attractive for shipowners operating in these areas, and in addition to the Havyard 843 ICE design, we also have other icebreaking designs in our portfolio, enabling us to quickly adapt these designs to the needs of the customers.”

Ice-free down to minus 30 C

Pomor and Normann are designed for extremely challenging conditions. Both are constructed according to DNVs ice class Icebreaker Ice-10, with classifications demanding capabilities of breaking up to 1-metre-thick, one-year old ice. There are also specific requirements in terms of hull strength, use of material, rudder and steering systems, propellers and propulsion system.

The ships are constructed with class notation Winterized Cold (-30). As such, these vessels are constructed for work in temperatures as low as minus 30 C degrees without freezing up. This means vital safety equipment and environment are protected against ice and frost at shielding, incorporation and electric heating or melting. Ships are fitted with engine power effective enough to go full out winterization and anchor handling operations at the same time.

The first ship in a series of three icebreaking offshore vessels was delivered last autumn, and shipowner Ivan Lyshko of Femco is very pleased with the ship currently in operation.

“Aleut solves its tasks. The first winter of operation was a mild one but there’s no doubt that the ship has good seakeeping capabilities. When winters become hard and the ice is thick, the ship is forceful enough to meet these rough conditions.”

In connection with work on Aleut, Pomor and Normann, Havyard has been involved from the first line was drawn until completion of the ships. Havyard Design & Solutions has delivered design and work drawings. Havyard Power & Systems has delivered electrical engineering, automation- and alarm system, in addition to Havyard Concept Bridge. Moreover, Norwegian Electric Systems has delivered electro-engines, generators and switchboard panels.