Page 29 - Журнал Sozvezdye Review - «СОЗВЕЗДИЕ» #39

Competencies and advantages

The territory of Nizhny Novgorod is home to sev-
eral shipbuilding enterprises, the largest being Kras-
noe Sormovo (member of the United Shipbuilding
Corporation) and Oka Shipyard. Here operate the
world-class design and engineering centers – Lazurit
Central Design Bureau, I. I. Afrikantov Experimen-
tal Design Bureau, Monolith Central Design Bureau,
R. E. Alekseev Hydrofoil Central Design Bureau,
among others. Comprising the local shipbuilding
cluster are 45 dedicated companies and organizations.
Nizhny Novgorod has retained its expertise as a
developer of floating facilities made of composite ma-
terials, which has been practically lost in other coun-
tries. It has a number of large R&D organizations
specializing on electronic instrumentation, naviga-
tion and unmanned vehicles. With large computing
centers that provide numerical simulation services
to some of the most sophisticated projects, Nizhny
Novgorod enjoys a reputation as Russia’s leader in
IT industry. Supporting the local industries’ staffing
needs are the local schools and colleges – Volga State
University of Water Transport and R.E. Alekseev
State University of Technology in Nizhny Novgorod
(both are members of the local shipbuilding cluster).
The competitive advantages of Nizhny Novgorod
shipbuilding cluster, as defined by authors of its de-
velopment strategy, are as follows:
– unique R&D expertise and production potential
in marketable segments;
– well-developed technological manufacturing
and business connections between members;
– diversified support to major players in the in-
dustry;
– advanced engineer training system;
– location at the intersection of major river wa-
terways. technologies and digital engineering; digital naviga-
The cluster members boast competency in engi- tion and communication systems implementation.
neering: To achieve progress in the above focus areas, the
– wide range of ship designs including underwater cluster members form alliances to promote their flag-
vehicles and high-speed innovative craft; ship projects. There are plans to start cooperation
– sea-river dry cargo carriers, tanker ships, auxil- with Nizhny Novgorod IT cluster, Nizhny Novgorod
iary ships and marine protection vessels; Automotive and Petrochemistry Innovation Cluster,
– shipborne and mobile nuclear power plants; and Sarov Innovative Territorial Cluster – all mem-
– deep-sea submersibles; bers of the mega-cluster “Integration. Tech Industry
– high-speed vessels (hovercrafts, hydrofoils, air- 4.0”, designed to be the driver of the area’s economy.
foil boats, amphibians); The Development Strategy 2035 is expected to give
– navigation and unmanned control systems. Nizhny Novgorod a leadership position in construct-
As to the challenges facing the cluster members, ing sea-river vessels, including unmanned ones, and
these are caused by obsolete equipment, whose re- high-capacity cargo and passenger hovercraft, includ-
newal is hindered by insufficient investment; under- ing for use in the Arctic Zone. There are plans to start
developed engineering and manufacturing coopera- production of ship’s components and equipment. The
tion; high dependence on imported components; and action plan for the development of the shipbuilding
insufficient company-consumer interaction between. cluster has as its goal a 2.9-fold increase in members’
The cluster sees its mission as overcoming these chal- output relative to 2018.
lenges and facilitating more joint projects. Speaking to the feasibility of the proposed plans
are the projects that are currently in progress at Nizh-
Heading towards leadership ny Novgorod-based shipyards. While Krasnoe Sor-
movo has reached a record pace in the delivery of
The development strategy for Nizhny Novgorod projects, producing ship’s hulls every thirty days,
shipbuilding cluster covers the period until 2035 dry cargo ships, chemical tankers and cruise liners,
and pursues the areas identified as the most promis- Oka Shipyard delivers projects such as tankers, tugs
ing. One such area is engineering sea-river dry cargo and barges. Achieving know-hows are the local de-
carriers and tanker ships, river cruise ships, leisure sign bureaus. Vympel Design Bureau pursues a new
boats, auxiliary fleet (survey ships, buoy tenders, fire- direction – engineering and technical maintenance SOZVEZDYE #39
fighting vessels, bunkering ships, tugs), fishing boats of floating power plants in the High North. Lazurit
and marine protection vessels (boom-laying boats, Design Bureau is engaged in the offshore Arctic en-
waste oil collectors and clean-up boats). A special fo- ergy supply projects. The engineer team of Afrikan-
cus lies on engineering innovative high-speed vessels, tov Experimental Design Bureau are developing reac- перспективы
including unmanned ones. tors for nuclear-powered icebreaker fleet, one being outlook
Other focus areas span design and engineering of RYTHM-400, to be installed on the most powerful
domestic alternatives to imports; ship’s nuclear in- icebreaker Rossiya (Project 10510 “Leader”). Apart
stallations, floating power plants and mobile offshore from this, the local shipyards are modernizing their
bases for Arctic development; offshore mining facili- fixed assets, introducing cutting-edge technologies
ties; floating craft of composite materials; computer and software. 27