Tokyo: Three Japanese companies - Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line) and Mitsui & Co - have signed an agreement with United Industrial Corporation (OPK), one of Russia's largest diversified corporations, to implement a feasibility study on constructing large-size liquid natural gas (LNG) carriers at the shipyards of an OPK affiliate.
Under the feasibility study, the three Japanese companies will consider modernization of the shipbuilding facilities at the OPK affiliate to enable construction of large-size LNG carriers. The three partners also look to cooperate with the shipyards, once modernization is completed, in participating in businesses related to future Russian LNG projects.
The agreement is believed to centre on OPK's historic Severnaya Verf-based shipbuilding complex in St Petersburg, in the past a builder of both naval and merchant ships, where development of a new complex able to build vessels up to 300,000dwt is planned. Initial step promised is building Russia's largest drydock, to measure 360 by 55 metres, due for completion in 2010. [28/04/09]
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