Military shipyards in northern Russia want role in building Arctic LNG infrastructure

The two major yards in Severodvinsk, northern Russia, intend to deliver key components to the country’s planned new Arctic natural gas project.
Their order books are full of jobs for the Russian military, but the shipyards of Sevmash and Zvezdochka still want a piece of the major construction works related to upcoming Arctic LNG projects.
According to Ilya Panteleev, a top representative of the United Shipbuilding Corporation, the two yards in Severodvinsk are currently in the process of training staff for the upcoming jobs.
It is an objective for the two military yards to ultimately increase their level of non-military jobs to 45-50 percent, Panteleev said in a recent conference, Neftegaz reports.
Negotiating construction
The Arctic LNG 2 project includes the construction of floating gravitational production units to be deployed in the Gulf of Ob. A key part of the construction works will take place at Novatek’s new plant in Murmansk. But more is needed and the United Shipbuilding Corporation is one of the additional key partners.
According to the Zvezdochka yard, there are now active negotiations held with “the biggest players in the Russian offshore oil and gas sector” related to Arctic hydrocarbon projects. The company from before has solid experience from the oil and gas industry. Over the last couple of years, the yard has delivered propellers to the new Yamal LNG carriers.
The United Shipbuilding Corporation includes more than 40 state shipbuilding and ship design companies, among them the Sevmash and Zvezdochka.
The yards in Severodvinsk are world-known for their construction and repair of nuclear submarines. All of Russia’s new Borei and Yasen-class subs are built at the Sevmash.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Canada ill-prepared for Arctic shipping boom, G7 sustainability summit hears, Eye on the Arctic
China: Qingdao plays pivotal role in China’s Arctic strategy, Cryopolitics Blog
Finland: Finnish president demands Arctic Summit to stop dangerous black carbon emissions, Yle News
Norway: Norway grants drilling rights closer to protected Arctic waters, The Independent Barents Observer
Russia: Russia’s resources minister to open new Arctic office, The Independent Barents Observer
Sweden: Iron mine in northern Sweden to restart production, The Independent Barents Observer
United States: US Gov preparing for oil exploration in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska Public Media