Norway’s Havyard Group said Monday it has secured a contract for the design and construction of a new icebreaking AHTS for the Russian shipping company FEMCO.

The vessel will be designed by Havyard Design & Solutions in Fosnavaag, Norway and is going to be constructed at Havyard Ship Technology`s shipyard in Leirvik in Sogn, Norway. Delivery is expected for September 2015 and the contract includes an option for a second vessel.

History with Russia and Icebreakers

This new contract is far from the first time Havyard has collaborated with a Russian shipowners.

In 2006, Havyard delivered two icebreaking offshore vessels for the Russian shipping company Sevmorneftegaz (currently Gazprom Neft Shelf). There are currently 5 vessels constructed by Havyard sailing under a Russian flag, including 2 AHTS’ and the icebreaking AHTS, Vidar Viking.

“The fact that we have experience in cooperating with Russian shipping companies and having already delivered similar vessels to Russia, were probably both important factors in getting this contract in competition with other European shipyards,” says Executive Vice President Sales Tor Leif Mongstad of Havyard Group. “We are among the shipyards in the world that have delivered most icebreaking offshore vessels. Havyard has previously constructed 7 icebreaking offshore vessels and this is a third of all the icebreakers that DNV has classified of this type worldwide.”

Design

The vessel will be of the Havyard 843 Ice design, which is a new design from the Herøy-based design company Havyard Design & Solutions. The vessel will be certified to DNV’s Icebreaker Ice 10, a class notation for vessels capable of breaking ice 1 meter thick, as well as a Winterized Cold notation to avoid icing to -30°C. The 86-meter vessel is otherwise designed to carry out anchor handling, towing and standby operations for oil protection and rescue services.

“We also have great expectations towards the market that is opening up with major activity in Russian territories in the north and we believe this contract will make Havyard even more attractive for the Russian interests who are looking for this type of tonnage,” adds Mongstad. “With the new Havyard 843 Ice design, we have positioned ourselves well in order to compete for contracts that the market will offer in the future. We also have other icebreaking designs in our portfolio and we have the ability to quickly adapt our designs for whatever needs the customer may have.”

FEMCO and Havyard

FEMCO Group was established in 2004 and is the only privately-owned company in Russia that has specialized in operating anchor-handling vessels. The company operates a fleet of 12 offshore vessels and, with this latest Havyard order, they now have presently 5 newbuild orders at various shipyards.

With this order, Havyard Group now has 8 newbuilds and a major conversion on order at the Leirvik shipyard in Sogn, Norway.

Havyard 843 Ice Particulars