Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri and Russian oil company Rosneft have signed a heads of agreement for the formation of a joint venture focused on design and engineering of a new type of vessel to be built at the Zvezda shipbuilding complex.
The Zvezda shipbuilding complex is a cooperation between Rosneft, Gazprombank, Sovcomflot and Korean Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. to establish an engineering center for shipbuilding and marine equipment for offshore projects at Primorskiy Krai in the Russian Far East.
The agreement between Fincantieri and Rosneft was signed during the 20th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum held from June 16-18, 2016. The document was signed in the presence of the Russian President Vladimir Putin and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi .
According to Fincantieri, the pair will also explore the possible development of those professional competences required to support the shipbuilding phase of the project.
The Italian company also added that cooperation will enable to enhance the technical potential of Zvezda Shipbuilding Cluster and lay the basis for creation of innovative equipment.
Giuseppe Bono , CEO of Fincantieri, stated: “This agreement will allow us to enhance a design platform that no other shipbuilding group can offer today. It represents the market’s best acknowledgment towards Fincantieri’s attitude to innovation and technological expertise, and confirms us as the only group able to reach a world leadership in every field in which we operate.”
Commenting on the agreement signed, Rosneft CEO, Igor Sechin , said: “Partnership with the largest shipbuilding enterprise in Europe, with significant experience in ships and special equipment design and construction globally fully complies with Rosneft’strategy of creating an advanced shipbuilding cluster in the Russian Far East. We are pleased to notice that the cooperation with the Italian partner provides for designing of the specific models of equipment for Zvezda shipbuilding center, having no counterparts on the Russian market.”