The event is unique and symbolic for Ukraine – the agricultural company becomes one of the leaders in the domestic shipbuilding sector.
At its own shipbuilding and repair yard “NIBULON” the company has started to build tugs of POSS-115 series – NIBULON-5 and NIBULON-6.
We are sure that Mykolayiv city will return its fame of naval land thanks to our investment!
Vessel construction is a long and complicated process to be proceeded by business negotiations, signing of contracts, and other preparatory work. The latter was started in November 2013, and on November 22 the first 19 tons of rolled metal were delivered to Mykolayiv city. In December metal cutting was started symbolizing the beginning of construction!
A solemn keel-laying of both vessels was planned to be held on December 05, the company’s birthday. The officials of state institutions, our financial partners, designers, shipbuilders, NIBULON’s team were invited to participate in the event. Taking into consideration the situation in our country, it was decided to cancel the solemnities and to start construction.
At present it is the fourth week of construction: NIBULON-5 tug readiness is almost 8%, NIBULON-6 is more than 1%. Subassembly is being continued now; the first section of NIBULON-5 tug has been installed on the stocks of the shipyard; at the same time metal is being cut at JSC “Leninska Kuznya” and delivered to Mykolayiv city.
54 shipbuilders from Mykolayiv city work on NIBULON’s shipbuilding order; totally, to organize the shipyard’s operation there will be created 350 jobs – a significant contribution to employment of Mykolayiv citizens. Besides, 21 representatives of Mykolayiv contractors (Hladotechnika Ltd., ISD Ltd and others) and 9 representatives of foreign contractors (Berg, Mitsubishi, Volvo-Penta, Alpha-Laval, Aalborg and others) will be involved in constructing tugs.
The company has already signed 60 contracts with foreign companies for delivery of equipment for tugs to the amount of Euro 3.6 million; additionally, 5 contracts with domestic companies to perform construction work will be signed additionally.
Kostyantyn Karpuhin, a senior foreman of the assembly and welding sector, used to work at the leading Mykolayiv shipyards, and today he calls himself NIBULON’s employee. He tells, “I am occupied with shipbuilding all my life. I traveled all over Ukraine, worked at Mykolayiv shipyards. Unfortunately, today the shipbuilding situation in Ukraine is complicated. When I was invited to work at NIBULON, when I found out about new shipyard, I did not hesitate any second. Frankly speaking, I do not see other shipbuilding prospects except NIBULON”.
At present the company’s fleet numbers 4 tugs of POSS-115 project. On May 31, 2011, at Mykolayiv shipbuilding yard “Okean” there was launched the first tug – NIBULON-1, and construction of the series of these vessels was started on June 30, 2010.
Fleet construction is performed within NIBULON’s investment program started in 2009. Its goal is to revive the Dnipro and the Sothern Bug Rivers as transport waterways of Ukraine – an integral part of Ukraine’s positive image as European country.
Tugs are built at NIBULON’s own shipyard – a former Mykolayiv shipyard “Lyman” which property complex was purchased in 2012. In November 2013 the shipyard’s in-depth reconstruction was started; the project is developed by the leading foreign companies and corporations, namely TTS Сonsulting (Norway), KEMCO (South Korea), Via Nova Plants (Italy).
This event is symbolic and unique for Ukraine as well as for its agrarian sector, as the domestic agricultural company constructs own fleet without assistance for the first time in the history of independent Ukraine. Purchase of the shipyard became a skilful and competent diversification dictated by a complicated situation in the shipbuilding sector. The event is quite symbolic; Mykolayiv region will get the new operating shipyard that will have no analogues in Ukraine after in-depth reconstruction. From now on the company will be strengthening its leadership positions in the shipbuilding sector, creating powerful competition to our domestic shipyards.
NIBULON’s General Director Oleksiy Vadaturskyy mentions, “2014 is a year of the 23rd anniversary of NIBULON which is a contemporary of independent Ukraine. We plan to revive our native shipbuilding. For the first time in the history of independent Ukraine we will build vessels at our own shipbuilding yard. Thus, our logical actions confirm NIBULON’s status as one of the best agricultural companies with modern transport infrastructure and one of the best companies in Ukraine’s grain market. We strengthen our positions of a pioneer in the revival of Ukraine’s industrial shipbuilding; we build vessels from Ukrainian steel under the control of the Shipping Register of Ukraine that will sail under Ukraine’s flag. We tend our country to be a marine one and not a country by the sea”.
Own fleet is a real prospect and a lever of success. NIBULON is experienced in constructing vessels at domestic and foreign shipyards and also has a skilful team and reliable contractors.
The previous four tugs of POSS-115 project were built at Mykolayiv shipbuilding yard “Okean”. Unfortunately, complicated situation at the shipyard and pace of construction left much to be desired: contract agreements and approved schedules were hampered constantly. The company partially finished to build its first tug. More work was done by the company during construction of the second and third tugs. The fourth vessel was completed by NIBULON practically!
For example, the average actual duration of vessel construction at “Okean” shipbuilding yard was more than 64 weeks (at 37 weeks scheduled). Taking into consideration that NIBULON started preliminary work in November 2013 to build NIBULON-5 and NIBULON-6 tugs, they will be built at the company’s own shipyard within 35 and 39 weeks, i.e. till July 01, 2014!
The company plans to construct tugs of POSS-121 project in spring 2014, and in autumn – non-self-propelled vessels of NBL-91 project. When in-depth reconstruction is finished, construction of “Volgo-Don Max” vessels will be commenced.
The tug of POSS-115 project is a vessel designed by NIBULON’s partner, Ukraine’s design bureau “Torola Design Group”. This is a modern hi-tech tug designed for operation on inland water ways of Ukraine, has mixed navigation, corresponds to the requirements of the EU environmental legislation.
The vessel has an appropriate class of the Shipping Register of Ukraine: KM LP4 III ZP A1 “Pusher tug”. Its length is 38.01 m; breadth – 11.52 m; draught – 2.55 m; deadweight 150 tons. Sailing speed – 11.5 knots, convoy speed – not less than 5 knots. Speed is ensured by two main Mitsubishi diesel engines of 940 kW each; rudder propellers with rotation angle of 360 degrees are responsible for maneuverability. Lifting deckhouse fixed in up position with lifting height of 4.2 m ensures better visibility when convoying.
Towing and mooring operations will be ensured by aft electrically driven towing winches, six hand winches, aft towing hook with remote kickback, and Pool–TW anchors. Navigation will be performed by using КМО-Jupiter magnetic compasses and Furuno SC-50 integrated satellite compasses.
Vessel construction is performed by the following stages: metal cutting – manufacture of hull systems – subassembly and fabrication – hull formation – testing of spaces – deck equipment assembly – assembly of electric and navigation equipment – assembly of insulation and metal plating – equipment of superstructure and living spaces – deck painting – mooring tests – sea trials.
Such vessels allow to pilot non-self-propelled vessels by pushing or towing, to service them or other floating facilities at ports, to help in performing mooring operations and to use vessels as icebreakers. A striking example of universality and operational reliability of the vessels is the event dated October 29, 2011, when the crew of NIBULON-1 rescued a sailor on a non-self-propelled vessel damaged by the storm in the Kremenchuk Reservoir.
NIBULON’s fleet numbers 28 non-self-propelled vessels (with the total deadweight of 131 080 tons); 7 tugs of 11 280 kW, including 4 tugs of POSS-115 project; a modern Watermaster Classic IV dredger made in Finland; St. Mykolai self-propelled vessel. Due to its own fleet the company successfully carries out water transportation along the Ukrainian rivers. When the investment program is implemented, the volume of cargo carriage will comprise up to 3 million tons of grain crops annually.
We start a cycle of photo reports to familiarize you with the status of vessel construction. Follow our news on NIBULON’s official website!
