On May, 27th, 2010 in Lappeenranta (Finland) FSUE “Rosmorport” and OAO “Sovkomflot” concluded the Memorandum of Cooperation with the Finnish enterprises specializing in designing and building of rescue icebreaking fleet. Official ceremony of the document signing of took place within the limits of visit of Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin to Finland.

On the part of Russia the Memorandum was signed by heads of FSUE “Rosmorport” and OAO “Sovkomflot”, on the Finnish part – by heads of STX Finland Oy, Aker Arctic Technology Inc. and Southeast Trading Oy.

Memorandum subject is interaction of Russian and Finnish companies in realization of the pilot project of designing and building of the innovative icebreaker-rescuer for emergency oil spills liquidation in water area of Gulf of Finland, including operation in ice conditions. It is supposed that such vessels will provide other functions also, such as people rescuing, towage, transport and special vessels pilotage, icebreaking pilotage, etc.

FSUE “Rosmorport” General director Igor Rusu said: “Close cooperation of the Russian and Finnish companies possessing a wide experience, will provide the organization of designing and building of such difficult vessel in deadlines. The choice of ship-building shipyard will be made on the basis of tender procedures coordinated by participants of this project. Thus the priority will be given to Russian-Finnish partnership. It is remarkable that icebreaker building is carried out within the limits of the complex program of ecological safety maintenance of port infrastructure facilities which “Rosmorport” pays special attention to”.