To go to the main Northern Fleet entry, see the Northern
Fleet Overview file.
To go to the main
Severodvinsk entry, see the Severodvinsk file.
Severodvinsk, Arkhangelsk Oblast
Address: 58 Arkhangelskoye shosse, Severodvinsk
164500
Telephone: (81842) 94-878, 94-726
Fax: (81842) 94-556, 61-441
E-mail: smp@sevmash.ru
http://www.sevmash.ru
Russian Shipbuilding Agency
President: David Guseynovich Pashayev
One
The largest of the two shipyards of the Russian State
Center for Atomic Shipbuilding (GRTsAS) in Severodvinsk, the Northern Machine-Building
Enterprise (more commonly referred to as Sevmash) is also known as the
Production Association (PO) Sever or PO Sevmashpredpriyatiye.[1]
Sevmash was formerly known as Severodvinsk Plant 402.[2] Sevmash began
building nuclear-powered submarines in 1952. By 1995, Sevmash had
constructed 125 submarines and had produced all the Northern Fleet's SSBNs.[3,
4] In addition, Sevmash participates in the dismantlement of Alfa-class
and Sierra-class titanium-hulled submarines.[5, 9]
Sevmash built the Tambov (Oscar II-class)
submarine in 1996, and the Russian government still has not paid Sevmash
for the work. Since December 1993, Sevmash has been constructing
the prototype of the new Severodvinsk-class submarine. A lack
of funding has prevented completion. The keel of the Yuriy Dolgorukiy,
the first submarine of the fifth generation Borey-class, was laid
down at Sevmash on 2 November 1996. Funding problems are also stalling
this project.[6, 7] Sevmash officials hope to complete construction
of the Akula-class submarine Gepard and will allow the submarine's
crew on board to become familiar with the vessel in spring 1998 .[8]
Sevmash also produces a number of products for civilian
use, including platforms for oil and gas exploration and extraction at
sea, automatic freezer trawlers, steamships, commercial ships, small sea
vessels, equipment for sugar refineries, expensive furniture, and water
purification units.[10] Foreigners with hard currency buy most of
these items.[1] In January 1999, Sevmash launched a new conversion
project for manufacturing equipment to produce cakes of peat for power
plants and boiler rooms.[11]
Sevmash houses fresh fuel assemblies on the PM-63 Malina-class
service ship.[1] A 12 December 1997 Protocol, signed by both the Russian
Navy and the US Department of Energy, added the PM-63 to the
DOE
MPC&A program.[2] MPC&A improvements to the PM-63 fresh
fuel storage areas were completed in September 1999 while improvements
for spent fuel storage areas on the PM-63 are estimated to be completed
by 1 May 2000. Initial upgrades for Sevmash's land-based fresh fuel
storage facilities were completed in December 1999.[3]
For information on the construction of the Yuriy
Dolgorukiy SSBN, please see the SSBN
Force Developments subsection of the Russian
Nuclear Weapons section.
4/30/2003: CONTAINER FOR SPENT FUEL CONSTRUCTED
The first of 24 storage containers to be constructed this year to house spent nuclear fuel from dismantled
submarines has been produced at Sevmash. The construction was financed by the US
Department of Defense within the framework of the Cooperative Threat Reduction
Program. Some of the containers will be sent to the Russian Far East, and the
rest will be used at the Zvezdochka Shipyard. The containers are intended to
last for 50 years.[1] According to the
Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), which is part of the Defense
Department, a total of 25 containers are planned as the first increment.[2] Approximately 100 casks
eventually will be procured.[3] [For more information on
storage container construction, see the
5/16/2001 entry in the
General
Naval Radioactive Waste Developments section.]
4/25/2003: FLOATING REACTOR
CONSTRUCTION PLANS SHOULD BE REEXAMINED--MATVIYENKO
According to
Valentina Matviyenko, the presidential envoy to the Northwestern Federal
District, the decision to construct floating nuclear power stations needs to be
carefully reexamined due to the high cost and questions concerning the financial
viability of the endeavor.
But she announced her support for the awarding of government
defense contracts to Sevmash. She warned, however, that the general
refitting of the Russian Armed Forces is not going to lead to a return to
previous levels of work.[1,2] [For more information on Minatom's floating reactor plans, see the
General Civilian Naval Reactor Developments
file.]
4/19/2003: NEW CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL TO INCLUDE SHIPYARD DIRECTORS
The mayor of Severodvinsk has introduced a new council of chairmen, which is
composed of the directors of the Sevmash, Zvezdochka,
Arktika, and Polyarnaya Zvezda Shipyards as well as the commander of the Belomorsk
Naval
Base along with a number of other enterprise directors. The council is
purely consultative.[1,2]
4/14/2003: HIGHEST ILLNESS RATE AT SEVMASH
At a meeting of union representatives from all shipyards in April 2003,
statistics were released indicating that Sevmashpredpriyatiye had the highest number of illnesses per 1,000
workers per year. More than 57 workers were sick at the Severodvinsk yard, followed by
the Yaroslavskiy Ship Repair Plant's 26.5 cases. Among the most
frequent illnesses was chronic toxipathy -- a disease caused by poisoning.
[1,2] The article did not provide information on the source of the toxins.[1]
3/29/2003: ANTI-TERRORIST TRAINING AT SEVMASH
On 29 March 2003, Sevmash security, regular and special police forces, as well as FSB agents
underwent a training exercise on
combating terrorist attacks against the shipyard's territory. The exercise
entailed two "terrorists" kidnapping a guard and threatening to kill him. Police
seemingly gave in to their demands, but actually made plans and then
successfully stormed the facility and apprehended the "criminals."
3/28/2003: SEVMASH RECEIVES MORE FUNDS FOR GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS
According to data released by the
Ministry of
Economic Development and Trade as well as by the
Russian Shipbuilding Agency, the defense sector
has grown by 14.6% over the past year. The submarine industry has grown as
well: Sevmash received almost 33%
in additional financing for government contracts. These contracts include the
construction of a fourth-generation nuclear submarine as well as the completion of the
modernization of the Dmitriy
Donskoy. [For more
information on the Dmitriy Donskoy, see the
SSBN
and SLBM Developments section.]
3/25/2003: ALTERNATIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SEVMASH
On 14 March 2003, Ekspert Severo-Zapad reported that an order for two tankers by a
Swedish company had been annulled. Sevmash blamed the Swedish company, saying it
had not provided financing on time, which the Swedes denied. A similar case involving an
annulled Greek order for catamarans took place a half-year ago. Ekspert Severo-Zapad thus supposes that Sevmash may be unable to deal
with foreign orders in the face of significantly increased Russian defense
contracts.[1]
According to other sources however, these contract annulments were not related
to Sevmash capacity, but rather to foreign financing problems (as in the
Swedish case) and to circumstances
related to 11 September 2001 (the offices of the Greek corporation were located
in the World Trade Center). Sevmash continues to be open for contracts in the
civilian sector and says it is looking for reliable partners.[2] Sevmash has been active
in the construction of barges and tugs for foreign companies, such as Promaris
[3,6]. Aside from shipbuilding, Sevmash has made a foray into the production of
oil and gas exploitation platforms in cooperation with
Kellogg, Brown and Root
(part of the US corporation Halliburton)[4,5,6],
equipment for reactors,[7] and flat cars for the transportation of
lumber.[8] Sevmash's conversion programs are supposed to reach 50% of
overall output.[7]
3/21/2003: TAX PENALTIES WAIVED FOR SEVERODVINSK
SHIPYARDS
Penalties for overdue tax payments have been waived for the companies associated with
the Russian
State Center for Atomic Shipbuilding (GRTsAS), which include the Sevmash and
Zvezdochka Shipyards. These companies have been unable to pay taxes as the Russian
government had not made payments or paid late for shipyard orders. The
accumulated tax penalties totalled approximately 300-370 million rubles (about
$9.6-11.8 million as of 21 March 2003). [1,2,3]
3/7/2003: SPONSORSHIP ASSISTANCE RECEIVED IN SEVERODVINSK
On 7 March 2003, Moskovskaya pravda reported that the Moscow city government has provided assistance to Sevmash on several
occasions. When the shipyard stood still due to lack of federal funding,
Moscow issued a loan to start the construction of the fifth-generation nuclear
submarine, Yuriy Dolgorukiy. [For more information, see the
3/15/2002
entry in the
Northern Fleet General Developments
file.] Moscow also helps to address the social problems of shipbuilders and naval officers
by building homes for retired officers, by sending medical doctors, and by
organizing Black Sea resort holidays for shipbuilders' children.
Moskovskaya pravda says that the families of Moscow's servicemen, who make
up a fair proportion of the crew, can
therefore rest assured that their sons are serving in the best-equipped
crews.[1] Various city boroughs of Moscow and other cities engage in another
form of assistance: they sponsor nuclear cruisers or submarines. This is the
case with the city of Bryansk, for example, which is providing assistance to the
crew of the SSBN Bryansk while the submarine
is undergoing repairs far from its home base. The naval base at the
shipyard is unable to supply the crew, as it
is supposed to.[2,3]
1/31/2003: SEVMASH
BUILDING TWO SUBMARINES
FOR CHINA
According to a 31 January 2003 report in Promyshlennyye novosti,
Sevmash has begun building two Vashavyanka-class [NATO name 'Kilo'] diesel-electric
submarines for the Chinese Navy. Varshavyankas are mainly used for
anti-submarine defense and are extremely quiet. The two boats will be built simultaneously. According to the contract, signed between Russia and China in May
2002, Russia will build eight Varshavyankas for China by 2005 at a total cost of more than $1.6 billion ($200 million each).
Submarine construction has already begun in
St. Petersburg and
Nizhniy Novgorod.
The start in Severodvinsk was delayed due to difficulties between Sevmash and
the Rosoboroneksport arms sales agency regarding the terms of construction.[1,2,3]
12/11/2002: SEVMASH LAYS OFF
SEVERAL HUNDRED
EMPLOYEES
Several hundred employees
were laid off at Sevmash
in December 2002.
On 11 December, Sevmash
Deputy Director
Viktor Darda
announced that the reduction of personnel is being carried out due to enterprise
restructuring, aimed at
the integration of modern equipment and new technology.[1]
According to Sevmash's collective agreement
with its workers, Sevmash
has the right to lay off 3.5% of its employees per quarter without taking the
opinion of their union into consideration. During the first nine months of 2002,
only 0.45% of the total number of employees were laid off (128 people). While
some employees believe that there is no such agreement in force at present, Director of
Human Resources Vladimir Novoselov
said that the
agreement signed in 1997 specifies that it will be automatically renewed until a
new agreement is signed. According to Novoselov,
in 2002, 70% of the laid-off employees were already receiving retirement
compensation. He also mentioned that 95% of those laid off had nothing against
leaving the enterprise.[2]
The employees that were laid off will receive monetary reimbursement in the amount
of their wages for six months; they were also notified two months prior to the
reduction.[2] Enterprise leaders deny that the layoffs are the result of cuts in
defense contracts.[3]
12/6/2002: GEPARD DEBTS PAID
IA Regnum reported on 6 December 2002 that the Ministry for Defense had
paid its debts to Sevmash for the construction of the Gepard SSN. The
costs for the submarine amounted to over 500 million rubles ($16.7 million as of
4 December 2001, when the submarine was commissioned). [For more information,
see the 5/28/2002 entry, below.]
8/21/2002: SEVMASH
UNION PROTESTS ENERGY RATE HIKES
Sevmash union leaders have approached Yuriy Spiridonov,
the head of the Oblast legislature's Commission on the Fuel and Energy Sector and
Public Housing and Utilities, with a request to inform Russian President Putin about
the unacceptability of increases in energy and heating costs, given current
socio-economic conditions. Spiridonov assured them that this topic would
be included in the Oblast legislature's October agenda. (For more
information on energy and heating nonpayment issues, see the 6/1995,
9/2000,
1/31/2001, and 4/23/2002
entries, below.)
7/10/2002: THREE TYPHOON
SUBMARINES TO BE DISMANTLED
On 10 July 2002, the Russian Navy
announced that it will dismantle three of its six Akula-class (NATO name 'Typhoon')
submarines. The funding for the dismantlement will come from the U.S.
CTR program. Work on the first submarine began
at Sevmash. The decision to scrap another two Akulas was based upon the
projected cost of modernization and the lack of funding.[1,2]
7/5/2002: SEVMASH TO BUILD
FLOATING REACTORS
On 5 July 2002, the scientific and
technical council of the Russian
Ministry
of Atomic Energy approved a plan for
Sevmash to build floating nuclear reactors, according to Yuriy Kondrashov, Sevmash deputy engineer. The first reactor will take 39 months to build and will be used by the shipyard
itself,
according to Kondrashov.[1] In
contrast,
Vilyuchinsk Mayor Aleksandr Markman and other sources have been
quoted as saying that the first reactor from Sevmash will be placed in Krasheninnikov Bay, Vilyuchinsk, Kamchatka. Markman said that the financing of the project would
begin in the third quarter of 2002, and the reactor would be completed in
2005.[2] [For more information on Minatom's floating reactor plans, see the
General Civilian Naval Reactor Developments
section.]
6/26/2002: TYPHOON SSBN COMPLETES REPAIRS
On 26 June 2002, the Sevmash shipyard returned the Dmitriy Donskoy,
a Project 941 Akula [NATO name 'Typhoon']
SSBN, which had spent 12 years at the shipyard undergoing repairs, to active
service. Defense Minister Sergey Ivanov, who
participated in the launching ceremony, said that the
Dmitriy Donskoy
will serve as a test-bed for a new SLBM type.[1] However, at the time of
relaunch, the Dmitriy Donskoy had no missile system installed, making
the submarine less than fully operational. The Bark SLBM originally intended for
the submarine was cancelled, and the Bulava SLBM
is not expected to start flight tests before 2005.[2] Admiral Gennadiy Suchkov,
commander of the Northern Fleet, told
reporters that, apart from the
Dmitriy Donskoy, only two other Akula-class
submarines are still operational. One Akula is in the process of
dismantlement, while two others have also been slated for elimination.[3]
Commenting on the Dmitriy Donskoy's relaunch, Ivanov said that no major
changes were in store for the nuclear submarine force. Ivanov noted that the
Ministry of Defense had strict financial limits, but promised that the Russian
government will pay all debts owed to shipbuilding plants by the end of 2002.[4]
6/24/2002: RUSSIA TO RELAUNCH TYPHOON AFTER REPAIRS
On 24 June 2002, a Sevmash official announced
that a Project 941 Akula [NATO name 'Typhoon']-class ballistic missile nuclear submarine will be relaunched
on 26 June 2002, having completed repairs and modernization at
Sevmash. [This submarine is the Dmitriy Donskoy.] The work on the submarine lasted for
over 10 years due to financing
problems. An official at the shipyard said that some of the new components on
the Akula submarine will be used on the fourth-generation Borey class submarines,
if they test well. It is estimated that the modernization of the Project 941
vessels will prolong their service lives until 2010 or longer.
6/20/2002: NORWAY'S STATOIL MAY
ORDER BARGES FROM SEVMASH
According to
Sevmash
spokeperson Raisa Elimelakh, Norway's
Statoil
may contract with
Sevmash to build barges to be used in the development
of the Belosnezhka gas field in the Barents Sea.
Sevmash equipment
for drilling oil and gas on Arctic shelves attracted the
Norwegians' attention at the Euro-Arctic oil and gas industry seminar on 4 June
2002. Negotiations with Statoil began shortly
thereafter, and Statoil officials are expected to visit
Sevmash
in the near future to discuss contract details.
5/28/2002: FUNDING PROBLEMS AT SEVMASH
On 28 May 2002, Sergey Mironov,
speaker of the Russian Federation Council, promised Sevmash workers
that he would address the issue of Ministry of Defense debts. Workers
at Sevmash have still not been paid for the
construction of the
submarine Gepard.[1] The Defense Ministry owes 20% of the
cost of construction, or 542 million rubles ($17.3 million as of 28 May
2002).[2] The continuing funding problem underscores a larger trend in the navy:
the undertaking of new projects for which the navy has inadequate funds. Yuriy Sivkov, Arkhangelsk Oblast representative to the Federation
Council, claims that the military owes the defense industry in excess of 8
billion rubles (approximately $255 million as of 29 May 2002). According to Sivkov, money to
pay the debt is regularly transferred from the government to the Ministry of
Defense, but then vanishes. Government attempts to take over
Defense Ministry debts have only resulted in a reshuffling of accounting ledgers. The
Defense Ministry's unreliability is putting a strain on the defense industry, as
well as affecting the quality of construction work and ship repairs.[3] Defense
Minister Sergey Ivanov has said that the Russian state will pay the entire
amount that it owes to Sevmash.[4]
5/20/2002: SEVMASH TO COMPLETE
REPAIRS OF A TYPHOON SSBN IN JUNE 2002
On 20 May 2002, Agenstvo Voyennykh Novostey reported that, according to anonymous sources at Sevmash, the
shipyard is due to complete repairs and upgrades on an Akula-class [NATO
name 'Typhoon'] SSBN in June 2002. Repairs of the submarine took 10 years to
finish due to inadequate financing. The upgraded submarine features some new
equipment, which may be installed on Borey-class SSBNs if its performance
on the Typhoon is satisfactory.
4/26/2002: SEVMASH ENERGY DEBTS
ELIMINATED
On 26 April 2002, the press
service of the Arkhangelsk Oblast utility company Arkhenergo announced that
the electricity supply to Sevmash had been completely restored after the shipyard
had paid
in full all its electricity debts, which amounted to approximately 20 million
rubles (over $640,000 as of 26 April 2002). The utility company also agreed
to eliminate Sevmash heating debts, which amounted to over 39 million rubles (over $1.25
million as of 26 April 2002) in exchange for fuel oil supplies
from the LUKOIL company at
a negotiated price.[1] [LUKOIL
ordered construction of five tankers at Sevmash,[2], which may explain its
willingness to supply fuel to Arkhenergo.]
4/23/2002: SEVMASH ENERGY
SUPPLY CUT BY 15 PERCENT
On 23 April 2002, local utility
companies cut the electricity supply 15% and limited the hot water supply to Sevmash. The facility owes 20 million rubles (over $640,000 as of 23 April
2002) for electricity and 39 million rubles (over $1.25 million as of 23 April
2002) for heat.
12/26/2001: A SPECIAL FUND MAY BE CREATED TO
FINISH CONSTRUCTION OF BELGOROD SSGN
On 26 December 2001, the new Commander of the Northern
Fleet Vice Admiral Gennadiy Suchkov expressed hope during a visit to Sevmash
that construction of the Antey-class [NATO name 'Oscar II'] SSGN Belgorod
would be completed. Suchkov mentioned the possibility of creating a
special fund with the Belgorod city administration to attract
additional financial resources to finish construction of the submarine.
12/15/2001: GEPARD SETS SAIL FOR GADZHIYEVO
On 15 December 2001, the Gepard left Sevmash for
the Gadzhiyevo Naval Base,
where it will join the 24th nuclear submarine division. The submarine was
commissioned on 4 December 2001 during a ceremony attended by Russian
President Vladimir Putin.
10/25/2001: RUSSIA MAY SELL ADMIRAL GORSHKOV
TO INDIA FOR $1.5 BILLION
On 25 October 2001,
Deputy
Prime Minister Ilya Klebanov announced that by the end of 2001 Russia
hoped to sign a contract with India to sell the
heavy aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov for $1.5 billion. Anil Trigunayat,
a spokesperson for the Indian embassy in Moscow, said that there is no
deadline for signing the contract and that the negotiations will go on as long as necessary.[1] On 10 October 2001, Sevmash
General
Director David Pashayev announced that Russia and India had signed a
protocol on technical issues pertaining to work to be completed on the
aircraft carrier prior to its transfer to India.[2] The Admiral Gorshkov
has been berthed at Sevmash for two years awaiting repairs. For more
information see the 4/4/2001
entry below.
9/19/2001: GEPARD READY TO JOIN RUSSIAN NAVY
On 19 September 2001, Sevmash spokesperson Raisa
Elimelakh said that the Gepard, a Bars [NATO name 'Akula II'] class
SSN, is ready to be handed over to the Russian Navy. She said that Sevmash
experts aboard the boat had already been replaced with navy staff. The
submarine is scheduled to be commissioned by the Russian Navy in late October
2001.
6/22/2001: SEVERODVINSK ENTERS TESTING
STAGE
On 22 June 2001, Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief
Vladimir Kuroyedov told Interfax that the Severodvinsk, a fourth-generation SSGN, had begun sea trials. Kuroyedov said that the
submarine is in the final stage of construction, but the testing timetable depends on
financing. Construction of the Severodvinsk started at Sevmash in 1993.
6/11/2001: GEPARD ENTERS FINAL TESTING STAGE
On 10 July 2001, the Gepard, a Bars [NATO name 'Akula
II']
class SSN, began its final sea trials. During the trials, which
will last through July 2001, the submarine will test its
RK-55
Granat [NATO name SS-N-21 'Sampson'] cruise missile system.
The tests will be supervised by a state commission. Upon completing the tests,
the submarine will return to Sevmash for a thorough examination, hull cleaning,
and painting. Then, an acceptance certificate will be signed by which the Gepard
will officially join the Northern Fleet.
5/30/2001: SEVMASH TO MANUFACTURE FOUR PONTOONS FOR
KURSK SALVAGE OPERATION
On 30 May 2001, Sevmash signed a contract with the
Rubin Central Design Bureau for Marine Engineering
and the Mammoet Transport BV
Company (the Netherlands) to construct four pontoons to be used for transportation
of the Kursk submarine to
Roslyakovo
after the submarine is lifted from the bottom of the Barents Sea. According to
Sevmash spokesperson Raisa Elimelakh, the pontoons will be ready by early
September.
5/12/2001: RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY NOT PAYING DEBTS TO SEVMASH
On 12 May 2001, Sevmash spokesperson Raisa Elimelakh
said that in spite of a Russian government decision to pay off its debts to the enterprise
for defense contracts--totaling over 2 billion rubles in early 2001 (over
$69 million as of 12 May 2001)--the Russian Defense Ministry has not made any
payments. Therefore, Sevmash has been unable to pay its taxes to the local and federal
budgets. According to Elimelakh, in 2000
the enterprise had to focus more on civilian production because
the state was not paying for its defense contracts.
4/4/2001: KUROYEDOV CONFIRMS THAT ADMIRAL
GORSHKOV AND ADMIRAL NAKHIMOV WILL BE REPAIRED
On 4 April 2001, Sevmash spokesperson Raisa Elimelakh
told ITAR-TASS that Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief
Vladimir Kuroyedov had confirmed during his visit to Severodvinsk that the
heavy aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov and the nuclear missile cruiser Admiral
Nakhimov would be repaired. Both ships have been at Sevmash for two years,
but the enterprise has not received any funding for their repairs, according to Elimelakh.[1] The exact cost of repairs is unknown,
though repairs of the
nuclear missile cruiser Admiral Ushakov, which
is at Zvezdochka, will cost more than 2
billion rubles (almost $70 million as of 4 April 2001).[2]
2/20/2001: SEVMASH DISMANTLEMENT BUDGET SHRINKS
A 20 February 2001 report in Pravda Severa
indicated that during 2000 Sevmash received 50 million rubles (over $1.7
million as of 20 February 2001) for maintenance of decommissioned nuclear
submarines awaiting dismantlement. In 2001, the state budget allocates only 25
million rubles (about $870,000 as of 20 February 2001) for this purpose.
1/31/2001: HEAT TO SEVMASH CUT
Arkhenergo spokesperson Petr Chechel said that because
Sevmash owes Arkhenergo over 100 million rubles (over $3.5 million as of 31
January 2001), on 31 January 2001 at 3pm provision of heat would be cut a
further 15%; Sevmash already had its heat reduced by 25% on 29 January
2001. Some of the enterprise's auxiliary facilities would receive less
electricity as well. According to Chechel, Arkhenergo experts are sure that
reducing electric power supply will not compromise Sevmash radiation safety.
1/24/2001: PRIVATIZATION OF SEVMASH RUMORED
On 24 January 2001, Pravda Severa reported rumors that Sevmash
may be privatized. According to the paper,
several big steel and raw materials companies have expressed interest in
Severodvinsk shipyards. Sevmash Deputy Director Eduard Borisov replied that privatizing Sevmash is
not feasible. State Duma Deputy Aleksandr
Piskunov said that privatization is unrealistic due to the absence of necessary legislation. Aleksandr
Mlotok, head of the Severodvinsk Administration Property Management
Committee, said that it was quite possible that Sevmash
would become a joint stock company with all shares owned by the government.
1/17/2001: GEPARD NEEDS ADDITIONAL FUNDS
On 17 January 2001, Sevmash spokesperson Raisa
Elimelakh said that the enterprise needs 500 million rubles (over $17.6
million as
of 17 January 2001) to complete the Gepard, a Bars [NATO name
'Akula II'] class submarine.[1] This amount exceeds previous estimates (see
the 9/2000 entry below). On 16 January 2001, Elimelakh told ITAR-TASS that the submarine
would be commissioned on Russian Navy Day, 29 July 2001.[2]
12/17/2000: GEPARD SSN TO BEGIN SEA
TRIALS
According to Admiral Viktor
Kravchenko, chief of the Main
Staff of the Russian Navy, sea trials of a new multipurpose SSN, named Gepard,
will begin on 17 December 2000. As of 8 December 2000, the vessel was
undergoing final dock trials. Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief
Vladimir Kuroyedov stated that
testing at sea would last two weeks. Gepard is a Project 971 Bars [NATO
name 'Akula'] class vessel designed to destroy ships and coastal
installations. According to Sevmash representatives, the submarine has a
displacement of up to 12,770 tons, a maximum speed of 35 knots and a diving
depth of 600m. It is armed with 28 Granat
RK-55 nuclear cruise missiles
with a range of 3,000km.[1] The nuclear yield of each missile is 200 kilotons.[2]
Gepard is also armed with torpedoes and antisubmarine cruise
missiles.[1]
10/5/2000: ADMIRAL GORSHKOV
AIRCRAFT CARRIER TO BE UPGRADED AT SEVMASH
Sevmash has been contracted to upgrade the heavy aircraft carrier
Admiral Gorshkov that was sold to India in October 2000. The contract will provide work for
3,000 workers for more than two years. The total cost of the contract is $500
million. The vessel can carry 16 Yak-38 vertical takeoff and
landing aircraft and 19 helicopters.
9/2000: GEPARD ENTERS
TESTING STAGE
In September 2000, Sevmash began comprehensive testing of
the Gepard, a
Bars [NATO name 'Akula II'] class submarine. The submarine is supposed to be
commissioned by
the end of 2000, but the Sevmash press service reported that as of fall 2000 the enterprise
still needed
over 130 million rubles (over $4.6 million as of 15 September 2000) to
complete the submarine.
9/2000: ARKHENERGO CUTS OFF ENERGY AND WATER
SUPPLY TO SEVMASH
In early September 2000, Arkhenergo, the Arkhangelsk regional power supply company,
ordered that hot water supplies to Sevmash be cut off due to unpaid debts. In turn,
Sevmash reportedly ordered that cold water supplies to the only operating power
station in Severodvinsk be cut off. This could interrupt the power supply to all
military enterprises in Severodvinsk and compromise the radioactive safety of the
region.[1] As of September 2000, Sevmash owed Arkhenergo 212 million rubles (about $7.6
million as of 8 September 2000) for electricity and heat.[2] On 26 September
2000, Sevmash workers plan to picket Arkhenergo's head office to protest energy
supply interruptions and high rates.[3]
9/6/2000: SEVMASH TO CONSTRUCT VESSEL FOR RAISING KURSK
Russian President Putin has approved plans for Sevmash
to construct a special vessel to raise the Kursk
submarine, which sank in the Barents Sea on 12 August 2000.
7/6/2000: SEVMASH OFFICIALS ACCUSED OF EMBEZZLEMENT
IN METAL SALE TO IZHORSKIY ZAVOD
Nikolay Zabotin, former head of Sevmash's
equipment department; Zabotin's deputy Mikhail Gospodarik; and Yuriy Filipskiy,
former head of Sevmash's financial and technical
supply department, are accused of selling rolled metal and metal stampings
to Izhorskiy Zavod at
scrap metal prices. The goods were later sold to Sweden.[1,2]
The Severodvinsk city court began hearing the case in 1996. In December
1999 the court sentenced Zabotin, Gospodarik, and Filipskiy to five years
in prison.[3] The Arkhangelsk Oblast court later revoked the sentence
on the grounds of legal technicalities and forwarded the case to a different
city court.[2] The trial is to conclude on 14 July 2000.[3]
1/16/2000: SEVMASH TO COMPLETE MODERNIZATION AND
REPAIRS OF TYPHOON SSBN
According to a 16 January 2000 article in Jane's Defence
Upgrades, Sevmash has been conducting upgrades and repairs on an Akula
[NATO name: 'Typhoon'] class SSBN. The submarine is expected to return to the Northern
Fleet early in 2000.
4/29/99: NEW BUDGET BENEFITS SEVERODVINSK
Severodvinsk shipyards are anticipating a better
financial year due to a surprisingly large 1999 federal budget allocation.
The new budget plan indicates the scope of work necessary to complete almost
every nuclear-powered submarine under construction at the Severodvinsk
shipyards. One contract identified in the new budget is the completion
and delivery of the Akula-class attack submarine, the Gepard,
construction of which began in 1991. Other projects established in
the budget include necessary repairs for nuclear submarines and for the
nuclear cruiser Admiral Nakhimov. Sources in the Northern
Fleet suggest that the budget might also provide for work on two new submarines
under construction at Severodvinsk: a Borey-class SSBN (the Yuriy
Dolgorukiy), and a Severodvinsk-class SSN. According to
the Bellona Foundation, events in Kosovo might partially explain the unexpected
budget generosity. Russian Defense Ministry officials are concerned
about the future of Russia's nuclear forces in the face of "NATO's new
strategic outlook" and the situation in the Balkans.
11/98: TWO DECOMMISSIONED SUBMARINES SENT TO SEVERODVINSK
Two Delta I-class nuclear-powered submarines,
both commissioned in 1975, arrived at Severodvinsk to await dismantlement.
The process of dismantling the submarines is scheduled to begin in March
1999, and will follow a retirement ceremony.
10/7/98: WORKERS STAGE ONE-DAY STRIKE AT SEVERODVINSK
SHIPYARDS
Shipyard personnel belonging to the trade union staged
a one-day strike on 7 October 1998 in Severodvinsk, the goal of which was
to demand payment of wage arrears. The strike took place at all of
the naval shipyard control posts in Severodvinsk, as well as in front of
the town hall. According to Arkhangelsk Governor Anatoliy Yefremov,
the shipyards received 54 million rubles (approximately $3,400,000) which
was appropriated for wage payments from the Ministry of the Economy on
the eve of the strike. The government owes the Severodvinsk shipyards
1.8 billion rubles (approximately $110,000,000) for defense orders.
Police reports indicate that there were no law and order violations during
the strike.
9/98: SEVERODVINSK FUEL TRANSFER POINT AWARDED
PERMANENT STATUS
A request to accord permanent status to the fuel
transfer point in Severodvinsk was granted in September 1998, thus terminating
the need to attain a separate license for each fuel shipment (eight trains
carrying spent fuel have departed from Severodvinsk since 1992).
The Severodvinsk City Council initially made the request on 25 September
1997, petitioning the Arkhangelsk Oblast administration, the Arkhangelsk
Oblast Deputies' Council, the Russian Ministry of Defense, and the Russian
Ministry of the Economy. In addition, the City Council requested
that funding for the fuel transfer point be entered as a separate line
item in the federal budget. The money would be allocated to the repair
of the PM-63 Malina-class service ship and fuel loading facilities.
9/9/98: WORK SUSPENDED AT SEVERODVINSK SHIPYARDS
As a result of growing tensions among workers, management
at both Severodvinsk nuclear shipyards has suspended work for several days
and asked workers to stay home until 14 September 1998. Although
the shipyards have provided food as partial payment, cash is lacking throughout
the city.
4/14/98: RADON TO PROCESS WASTE FROM MIRONOV MOUNTAIN
Arkhangelsk Oblast Environmental Protection Committee
Chairman Anatoliy Petrovich Minyayev identified the "soon-to-be catastrophic
condition of the waste site on Mironov Mountain in Severodvinsk" as the
most dangerous waste site in Arkhangelsk Oblast. According to Minyayev,
Sevmash and Radon are
working on the problem. Radon will process the contaminated water that
has accumulated at the facility. It is still undecided where the solid
waste will be stored.
1/17/98: WORKERS HAVE NOT RECEIVED WAGES
Workers at the Russian State Center for Atomic Shipbuilding
in Severodvinsk have not received wages for eight months.
2/6-7/97: STRIKING SHIPBUILDERS DEMAND YELTSIN'S
RESIGNATION
Wage arrears, federal debt to the Sevmash and Zvezdochka
shipyards, and inadequate social care prompted a two-day strike outside
of Northern Fleet command headquarters in Severodvinsk on 6 February 1997.[1,2,3]
According to Severodvinsk Deputy Mayor Vasiliy Uvarov, the federal government
owes the shipyards more than 1 trillion rubles (around $177 million) for
work already completed.[1] Other city workers joined the shipyard
employees in the strike.[1,4] Protesters circulated a petition demanding
the resignation of Russian President Yeltsin and his government.[3,4]
10/18/96: US DEFENSE SECRETARY PERRY VISITS SEVERODVINSK
US Secretary of Defense William Perry visited the
Zvezdochka facility in Severodvinsk and watched as workers dismantled a
decommissioned Yankee-class SSBN. The work was performed using equipment
provided to Russia as part of the Cooperative Threat Reduction, or Nunn-Lugar,
program. A special "guillotine" was used to cut the hull of the submarine.
Nine submarines have already been dismantled in this way, with another
five waiting. Perry was accompanied on his visit by Senators Sam Nunn,
Richard Lugar, and Joseph Lieberman.
9/23/96: WORKERS GO ON AN INDEFINITE STRIKE
An estimated 29,000 out of a total of 38,000 Severodvinsk
workers went on strike demanding their back wages. Union representatives
stated that the strike might last indefinitely. Municipal authorities are
mediating the crisis.
7/18/96: SSGN TOMSK IS COMPLETED
A new SSGN, the Tomsk, was assembled at the
Northern Machine-Building facility and launched in Severodvinsk.[1,2]
More than 800 Russian facilities participated in building Tomsk.
Since 1992, four new attack submarines, seven multipurpose and two diesel-powered
submarines were introduced to the Fleet.[1]
12/21/95: NEW SUBMARINE JOINS THE NORTHERN FLEET
The submarine cruiser Vepr (wild boar), built
at Severodvinsk, has successfully undergone state testing and has been
passed on to the Northern Fleet.
11/9/95: WASTE CONTAINERS SENT TO MAYAK BY RAIL
Containers with solid radioactive waste from the
four nuclear reactors of the two recycled submarines of the Northern Fleet
have been set on a special rail car to be transported to the Mayak
facility. This is the third train-load of radioactive waste to be
sent from Severodvinsk in the past year. There is a chance that by
the end of 1996, Severodvinsk will remove all of its radioactive waste
stockpiles.
6/95: POWER SHORTAGES AFFECT WORK AT SEVERODVINSK
Work at Severodvinsk was reportedly being conducted
under "emergency power supply conditions" due to power shortages.
5/24/95: REPORT SHOWS THAT ZVEZDOCHKA IS IN POOR
FINANCIAL SHAPE
According to Izvestiya, the Zvezdochka enterprise
was technically unprepared to recycle decommissioned submarines. Falling
behind SALT I and SALT II deadlines, the enterprise has restricted itself
to the following process: workers cut the missile bay out of the submarine,
the remaining bow and stern sections are welded together creating a steel
barrel which is then towed to a long-term storage area. Originally thought
to be cost recoverable through the sale of salvaged scrap metal, the cost
of salvaging one submarine jumped to 23 billion rubles, with the cost of
storing one submarine in a long-term storage area reaching 2 billion rubles,
driving the enterprise's losses into the billions of rubles. The Russian
Ministry of Defense owes Severodvinsk enterprises some 672 billion rubles
for building new submarines and repairing existing ones, leading 12,000
Severodvinsk inhabitants to apply for resettlement in other Russian regions.
Anatoliy Minyayev, General Director of the Environmental Protection Department,
stated that the plant's five solid radioactive waste storage facilities
do not meet security requirements, they have no roofs or waterproofing,
all are full and overflowing, and four are in need of reconstruction. Reports
also indicate that reactors in four of the nine submarines in Severodvinsk
have already experienced or are showing signs of impending seal failure.
3/14/95: STORAGE FACILITIES DO NOT MEET SAFETY
STANDARDS
Facilities of the State Center for Atomic Shipbuilding
and Belomorsk navy base located in Severodvinsk annually produce up to
3,000 cubic meters of liquid radioactive waste, 500 cubic meters of solid
radioactive waste and 10,000 cubic meters of gaseous radioactive waste.
All five storage facilities for radioactive liquid waste, both stationary
and mobile, do not meet safety standards and require reconstruction.
1995: SEVERODVINSK WILL BE ONLY SUB FACILITY
As of the end of 1995, Severodvinsk is Russia's only
shipyard building and refitting nuclear submarines in the Russian Federation.
1993: CONSTRUCTION ON SUBMARINES CONTINUE
The keel of a new type of attack submarine was laid,
and work continues on Akula-class SSN and Oscar-class SSGN
submarines.
1993: GAN INSPECTION OF SEVERODVINSK REVEALS A
STATE OF DISREPAIR
Gosatomnadzor (GAN) inspected the Severodvinsk facility.
Their report expressed concern over the condition of decommissioned submarines
which had become "floating spent fuel stores. Their condition is unsatisfactory
and sinking is a real possibility." GAN also noted that some of the assemblies
are damaged and cannot be off-loaded.
Page last updated 4 August 2003
Comments or questions? Contact Cristina
Chuen at MIIS CNS: cristina.chuen@miis.edu
This material is produced independently for NTI
by the Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the
Monterey Institute of International Studies and
does not necessarily reflect the opinions of and has
not been independently verified by NTI or its directors, officers,
employees, agents. Copyright © 2003 by MIIS.
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