OREANDA-NEWS. November 24, 2009. A Gazprom delegation led by Alexander Ananenkov, Deputy Chairman of the Company’s Management Committee paid a working visit to the Primorsky Krai. The delegation included Yury Shamalov, Director General of Gazflot, Alexander Mandel, Director General of Gazprom dobycha shelf, Yury Komarov, Chief Executive Officer of Shtokman Development AG.

During the visit the Gazprom delegation took part in the construction launch ceremonies for two shipyards: one in the Chazhma Bay (a joint project between United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) and Singapore’s Yantai Raffles Shipyard Co. Ltd) and the other in the town of Bolshoy Kamen (a joint project between USC and South Korea’s Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering). These shipyards are planned to produce modern heavy-tonnage vessels, including LNG carriers, floating drilling rigs and production platform topsides for Gazprom and other companies.

As part of the visit Gazflot and United Shipbuilding Corporation signed an Agreement of Cooperation. The Agreement sets out the fundamental agreements on the construction of supply vessels, floating drilling rigs and LNG carriers.

The Gazprom delegation also took part in the meeting headed by Igor Sechin, Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation on the Russian shipbuilding development plans over the med-term perspective. The meeting participants noted that the need for new shipbuilding capacities was driven by the growing demand for state-of-the-art marine equipment. The national shipbuilding development will bolster an advance of new technologies, including in related industrial sectors and will increase Russia’s share in the world shipbuilding and marine transportation.

“The signed Agreement opens new horizons for developing the domestic shipbuilding in the Primorsky Krai, creating new jobs and developing the social infrastructure. It should be also noted that the Agreement has become an important step in implementing the Eastern Gas Program,” emphasized Alexander Ananenkov.