In Helsinki the agreement between KONAR JSC (Russia) and ABB Marine and Ports (Finland) for localization in Russia of production of Azipod propulsion system for ice class vessels has been concluded.

Azipod system presents marine traction controlled propulsion units (propulsion units) applied on ice class vessels in Arctic projects of Russian oil and gas companies. The vessels equipped with such equipment are able to spin a full 360 degrees in a minute, work at critical temperatures, pass ice fields up to 2 m thick.

It is expected that as part of cooperation with the Finnish company ABB KONAR will act as a manufacturer of Azipod system components, such as a propeller shaft, a hub, fasteners, propeller blades, a thrust shaft, electric motors, generators etc.

Cooperation agreement was signed by the General Director of KONAR JSC Valery Bondarenko and the Managing Director of ABB Marine and Ports Juha Koskela.
Some time ago representatives of the Finnish company visited facilities of KONAR Industrial group in Chelyabinsk. They gave high appraisal to manufacturing capacities, became familiar with completed and future projects of the company.

Facing the technological challenge of LNG plants construction projects, new products for needs of these projects are designed at the industrial site of KONAR: pumps, electric motors, cryogenic valves, modules, parts and assemblies of Arctic LNG carriers.

— Manufacturing capacities of the KONAR Industrial group and positive experience in ship building allow to take responsibilities for localization of these products in our territory, and strategic partnership with ABB gives a possibility to adopt new products for ship building and provide workload of our facilities — commented Arseniy Dikiy, Head of Business Development, KONAR JSC.

For reference:
ABB company is a global technological leader in the field of electric networks, electric equipment, industrial automation, robotic engineering and electric drives. ABB solutions are applied in automation, electrification processes, information exchange and construction of “ready-to-operate” objects in all segments of oil and gas industry – field production, transportation, refining and sale.