MMC Norilsk Nickel Signs Contract with German Shipyard for Four Arctic Vessels
MMC Norilsk Nickel has signed a contract with the German shipyard Aker MTW Werft GmbH to build four ice-class container vessels. Under the terms of the contract, the new arctic ships are due for delivery to MMC Norilsk Nickel between the beginning of Q3 2008 and the end of Q1 2009. Each vessel will have equivalent specifications to the diesel-electric ,ice-class ”Norilsk Nickel”, a unique ship that has operated the North Sea Route under the Russian state flag since April 15 this year. The contract, worth a total of €320 million euros also includes an option for building a fifth arctic container ship.
As MMC Norilsk Nickel’s Deputy General Director Dmitry Cheskis has observed, the development of a full-scale fleet of five or six vessels (to be undertaken in accordance with the company’s development strategy) will provide for MMC Norilsk Nickel’s independence in terms of transportation along the North Sea Route.
About Norilsk Nickel
MMC Norilsk Nickel is the world’s largest producer of nickel and palladium and one of the major producers of platinum, copper and cobalt. MMC Norilsk Nickel shares are listed with several national stock exchanges in Russia (MICEX, RTS: GMKN) and its ADRs are traded on OTC markets in New York (NILSY US), London (MNOD LI) and Berlin (NNIA GR).
