Within his visit to Mykolayiv region, the Patriarch consecrated the tug, talked to NIBULON’s employees and guests of the shipyard. Head of Regional Council Taras Kremin and Deputy Head of Regional State Administration Oksana Yanishevska took part in the solemnities.
…Holy Patriarch of Kyiv and All Rus-Ukraine Filaret consecrated the newly built vessel and the crew. Then there was held a solemn meeting on the occasion of important event for NIBULON’s team and Mykolayiv city. Patriarch Filaret decorated Head of Supervisory Council of NIBULON Andriy Vadaturskyy with the Order of Yuriy the Conqueror for the revival of spirituality in Ukraine. Hero of Ukraine, NIBULON General Director Oleksiy Vadaturskyy was decorated with the Order of Jesus the Rescuer.
Head of Regional Council Taras Kremin stressed that it was a great honor to accept a person who did a lot to unite Ukrainian people, those who pray for peace and welfare on Ukraine’s land. “It is symbolic that there is a place on Earth which is named after St. Nicholas, a patron of sailors. And it is symbolic that during anniversary of Mykolayiv city at the shipbuilding and repair yard “NIBULON” there is consecrated the vessel blessed by Holy Patriarch Filaret. This event has already entered the pages of new Ukrainian history”. Head of Regional Council thanked people who support Ukrainian Army in these difficult times, who construct vessels, who make Ukraine and Mykolayiv stronger.
Today we have two holidays, namely putting into operation of the tug and visit of such an honorable person”, said Head of Supervisory Council of NIBULON Andriy Vadaturskyy. “People, who know NIBULON, know the history of its struggle. The company is a peer of independent Ukraine. It was not easy, but we have created the company we are proud of.”  
We have 43 branches in 12 regions and 4,500 employees; we are reviving shipbuilding in Ukraine; though, we were convinced of impossibility to do it. But due to our cooperated team we managed to do it. At the beginning there was accepted NIBULON’s strategy of state approach that was implemented by NIBULON’s employees headed by Hero of Ukraine Oleksiy Vadaturskyy. And I am sure if we unite today, we will build wonderful and successful Ukraine.
Holy Patriarch Filaret sincerely said he was glad to consecrate the vessel, “This symbolic event is of great importance for our independent Ukraine. It symbolizes revival of the country, and you are participants of domestic industry revival. At present we go through tough times, but we will win. Our enemy, Russia, has stronger weapon but not spirit. Ukrainian spirit is reviving. It was hard to imagine that each region would direct its volunteer battalions to Donbas region… They are going to protect their land. We attacked nobody, did not capture any foreign land; we voluntarily renounced nuclear weapon as a peaceful country, and our guarantor attacked us, captured Crimea and wants to take Donbas region. You are aware of its actions in Mykolayiv city… The truth is on our side; consequently the whole world supports us. God is with us. Hitler was stronger than the Soviet Army, but he was an aggressor. Who won that war? We won, because God and the truth were on our side. And now we are a victim of aggression; God and the truth are with us, and we will win”.
We must be strong”, stressed Holy Patriarch. “We thought we did not have enemies; thus, our army was weak. And now we will build strong Ukraine, and your actions strengthen our country and Ukrainian people. NIBULON revives shipbuilding; you were persuaded not to do it because of more powerful competitors … But you did things for benefit of Ukrainian people.
According to Patriarch Filaret, fear of death was overcome due to love for Motherland. People who are not at war make donations demonstrating love to their Motherland; nobody even hoped that our army and volunteer battalions would be supported in such a way. This means that we unite. We were constantly said about division into West and East. Now everybody realizes that we are united Ukrainian nation that demonstrates strength of spirit. Our enemy did not take into consideration this fact; he counted on his weapon.
“Through suffering and death we will revive our independent country”, assured Holy Patriarch. “Ukraine will be big country in Europe.”
Hero of Ukraine Oleksiy Vadaturskyy thanked Patriarch Filaret for doing an honor. He stressed that Holy Patriarch, by his example, showed the way Ukraine and people must be supported both at Maidan and during military actions in Donbas region. Patriarch Filaret showed the way we must fight for united Ukraine, for victory.
“Less than two months ago President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko was present during launching of this vessel, now the tug is consecrated”, said Oleksiy Vadaturskyy. “These symbolic events prove that we will win.
… This is the second tug built at the shipbuilding and repair yard “NIBULON”. On August 21 NIBULON-5 tug was solemnly put into operation with the participation of President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko. At that time there was held keel-laying of three tugs of 121 project. Time and events demonstrate seriousness and decisiveness of intentions of the agrarian sector leader, Ukraine’s leader of rating of exporters of grain and oil crops (last marketing year NIBULON exported more than 4.5 million tons of grain) concerning implementation of the project to revive navigation on the Dnipro, the Southern BugRivers and other Ukrainian rivers. These are not intentions but reality: in 2014 navigation season NIBULON shipped more than 1.9 million tons of cargoes on waterways having considerably released highways and railroads. NIBULON’s principles of logistics arrangement implemented in practice will bring hundreds of millions of dollars of additional income to Ukrainian agricultural producers. Another advantage is the revival of many river ports on the DniproRiver – from north of the country to Kherson city.
This project implementation has started from construction of river terminals and elevator complexes; at the same time NIBULON’s orders for cargo fleet construction were carried out. Taking into consideration problems in Ukrainian shipbuilding, NIBULON started to develop this sector. The agricultural company purchased property complex of shipyard and today, besides vessel construction, production facilities are being modernized and reconstructed. Our company plans to construct 12 shallow-draught tugs, 12 non-self-propelled vessels with the total deadweight of 48 thousand tons, 35 self-propelled vessels of “Volgo-Don Max” class with the total deadweight of 175 thousand tons.
Taking into account difficult situation in attracting foreign investment, today’s important feature is renovation of syndicated financing in the amount of USD 130 million for NIBULON by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. This means confidence in NIBULON as a reliable partner. NIBULON has been confirming confidence for many years cooperating with world leading financial institutions, receiving guarantees from governments of the USA, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway.
NIBULON-6 tug combines Ukrainian metal and foreign equipment that corresponds to the highest international standards.