Russia's Severnaya Verf launches PSV

Russia's Severnaya Verf, St. Petersburg's Northern Shipyard, yesterday launched a VS 485 platform supply vessel for Norway's Solvik Hull Supplies AS.

In addition to its platform supply role, the PSV will be equipped for rescue, evacuation and fire fighting missions.

The contract with Severnaya Verf, a unit of United Industrial Corporation (OPK), calls for the production of what is described as "a technically well equipped hull," including all hardware, piping installation and the painting of the vessel.

However, Severnaya Verf is also carrying out the turnkey construction of a VS 470 and a VS 485 PSV, also for Norwegian customers. Besides the production of hulls and systems, Severnaya Verf is carrying out further assembling, wiring and commissioning work, testing the equipment and also conducting sea trials in the Gulf of Finland and the Baltic. Delivery of the first fully-completed vessel is set for later this year and the second will follow by December 2010.

Andrey Fomichev, the Director of OPK Shipbuilding, says that Severnaya Verfa is currently the only enterprise in Russia experienced in constructing both technically well-equipped hulls and full-completed platform supply vessels.