Rolls-Royce opens up in St. Petersburg

Russia holds six per cent of the world’s oil reserves, a quarter of which is offshore, and nearly a third of the world’s natural gas, with half of that offshore in the Arctic and St Petersburg has 60 per cent of the country’s shipyards and marine design, research & development and education facilities located there. Rolls says this will create a demand for more than 50 platforms and terminals, 150 oil and gas tankers and 140 anchor handling tug supply and platform supply vessels by 2030. Sytze Voulon, Rolls-Royce Regional Director – Marine, said: “Our commitment to the Russian market is now well developed, with Rolls-Royce already present in Vladivostok and Moscow. The new office in St Petersburg will provide a further focus for marine expertise in Russia.” Contracts worth €5 million have already been signed at St. Petersburg to supply deck machinery for an offshore platform being built in Vyborg by Vyborg Shipyard and azimuth thrusters for a salvage vessel being built in St Petersburg by Admiralty Shipyards. Rolls-Royce has a growing involvement in Russia’s marine market. It has already provided the ship design and equipment for three Rolls-Royce UT 758 ice breakers built in Norway for Swire Pacific Offshore, for offshore operation in Sakhalin.