NIBULON´s General Director, Hero of Ukraine Oleksiy Vadaturskyy stated this to journalists during the ceremony of solemn launching of a new generation tug Yurii Makarov in Mykolaiv.
According to him, by July 1, 2017, the company intends to build and launch two more such 121M project vessels intended for operation in shallow water areas, including the northern tributaries of the Dnipro River – the Desna River and the Prypiat River. In addition, another non-self-propelled vessel will be built.
“By July 1, our fleet will consist of 60 vessels, and by the end of the year – of 65 ones. Every year we will produce 15-16 complete vessels up to 150 meters long. We intend to reach a figure of 100 vessels within 4 years. We will completely compensate for the fact that two shipbuilding plants do not operate in our city”, noted Oleksiy Vadaturskyy.
He also added that the company was carrying out a full-scale reconstruction of NIBULON shipbuilding and repair yard in order to place two production lines in its territory – for the passenger and specialized fleet, and for merchant ships. The company intends to produce its own passenger hydrofoils of a new generation and small passenger vessels.
Taking into account the further and continuous increase in the number of its own cargo fleet, NIBULON will be able to transport up to 4 million tons of cargo per year along Ukraine’s waterways. During the period from 2017 to 2022, there will be built a number of vessels of new projects at the shipyard, including a vessel for dredging rivers, the bottom of which consist of rock, that will be launched by September 1. It will enable the company to perform the most difficult dredging operations on its own, including the ones on the Dnipro River.
Oleksiy Vadaturskyy stressed that the company´s investment program for the construction of its own cargo fleet and modernization of the shipyard was financed by the European Investment Bank. The corresponding agreement on the allocation of USD 74 million was signed by the General Director in Brussels on December 19, 2016. In addition, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is providing financial support for the project.
According to Oleksiy Vadaturskyy, the company’s activities in shipbuilding should demonstrate to Mykolaiv citizens and citizens of the entire Ukraine that this industry is being revived in the country and will only develop.
“We decided to name our vessel in honour of Yurii Makarov – a well-known shipbuilder, a long-time director of the large shipbuilding plant, in order to right a wrong. Previously, the ship with his name was launched, but it was renamed in offshore jurisdiction. We want this vessel to operate in Ukraine, and Mykolaiv residents have not only the memory of the countryman, but also confidence in the prospects of shipbuilding. So that people do not look for work abroad, and find work in their native city, so that students know that profession of a shipbuilder is the most promising profession in Mykolaiv”, noted Oleksiy Vadaturskyy.
He also added that the company intended to name another two 121M project tugs in honour of famous shipbuilders Nodari Chanturiia and Anatolii Hankevych. Thus, NIBULON wants to draw attention to the future of shipbuilding.
“We set a very high standard for ourselves. If we build tugs, we build the most modern ones; if we build passenger vessels, then there will be no such ones even in Europe”, noted Oleksiy Vadaturskyy.
According to him, the company´s prospects – both of the agricultural sector and the shipbuilding yard – will allow the company to create more than 1000 new jobs at the cargo fleet in the near future. In addition, up to 500 jobs are planned to be created after the expansion of the shipbuilding yard.
“Every year we increase the amount of metal processing by 2 times, and in 3 years we will process 15,000 tons per year. This is metal of Ukrainian metallurgical enterprises. In addition, it is very important that our vessels will fly the Ukrainian flag, that they are built according to Ukrainian drafts, according to the projects of the Ukrainian design centers”, noted Oleksiy Vadaturskyy.
NIBULON’s General Director stressed that the company’s activities were drastically different from the activities of some politicians who only talked about the development of the country’s waterways, but in fact they didn’t make any effort but only opposed a private initiative.
“I am ashamed of the deputies from Mykolaiv region, such as Borys Kozyr, of the Minister of Infrastructure Volodymyr Omelian, of other deputies and officials who promote initiatives, such as the draft law “On inland water transport”, to please offshore companies. At the same time, they do not develop rivers but only create an imitation of reforms in this area”, said Oleksiy Vadaturskyy.
Using the situation around the dredging of rivers as an example, he compared the efficiency of the state and business in the issue of the shipping revival.
“There were talks about dredging of the Dnipro River for three years. Nothing has been done during this period of time, except PR of officials, ministers of transport and infrastructure. While they were busy with PR, we performed dredging on the Southern Buh River, started cargo transportation along this river. Our transshipment terminal in Voznesensk (Mykolaiv region), which has been operating for less than a year, has received 200,000 tons of grain; we removed more than 8,000 trucks from the roads from Voznesensk to Mykolaiv”, noted Oleksiy Vadaturskyy.
According to him, the officials have done nothing to revive the inland waterways. “We are forced to build a modern vessel that will perform specialized operations, including dredging on the Dnipro River. We, without the help of the state, are building a series of vessels that will transport the products of dredging to agreed underwater storage sites. Today, the state gives these contracts exclusively to foreign companies. Although the Ukrainian business possesses advanced technologies, experience, equipment and personnel to implement such projects independently”, added NIBULON’s General Director.
“I believe that we, as the company that without the help of the state carries out such large-scale projects as the revival of navigation along the Dnipro River, the Southern Buh River and other rivers of Ukraine, have the right to criticize the government for its inactivity in this direction. I would like Prime Minister Volodymyr Hroisman, Vice Prime Minister Volodymyr Kistion to pay attention to this issue. We will develop the infrastructure ourselves, dredge the rivers, and increase the volume of river transportation. For this, one shouldn’t simply interfere”, said Oleksiy Vadaturskyy.
He noted that the indifferent silence of the government leaders regarding the draft law No. 2475a and its destructive influence on the Ukrainian shipbuilding might indicate support for the initiatives in the document, which was unacceptable for statesmen. “I am ready to explain reasonably and prove to any official why our position is statist and why it is impossible in any case to adopt such draft laws. How long do we need to talk in order to be heard?”, stressed Oleksiy Vadaturskyy.
According to him, some officials in Mykolaiv and Kyiv consider NIBULON’s initiative to revive shipping and shipbuilding as “evil”. “I believe that we are, on the contrary, doing good, creating jobs, reviving the former glory of Ukraine as a maritime country. In the conditions of war, pressure of the authorities on business, constant negative news, such companies as NIBULON create positive stories of success the country is proud of”. summed up NIBULON’s General Director.