VLADIVOSTOK. Sept 4 (Interfax) - The work on building a new shipyard near Vladivostok to manufacture medium- and large-tonnage vessels will begin shortly, Russian Industry and Trade Minister Anton Alikhanov told Interfax.
"The deal will be finalized shortly, and the design work will begin," Alikhanov said.
VTB and the United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC), temporarily operated by the bank, have considered various plots for the new Far Eastern shipyard, and the availability of skilled workforce was an important factor of the final decision, he said.
"Transport accessibility and energy supply are also key factors of the shipyard location. Considering the scale of the future shipyard, the availability of skilled workforce becomes the most important factor. Therefore, colleagues from VTB and USC have studied every possible location in Primorye and are considering options in the close proximity to Vladivostok," he said.
The shipyard's conceptual parameters are ready, he said.
"The shipyard will focus on medium- and large-tonnage fleet, which needs new vessels most," Alikhanov said.
Earlier on Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin looked at the plot assigned for a new shipyard in the Promezhutochnaya Bay in Vladivostok from a boat. Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, VTB CEO Andrei Kostin, Primorye Governor Oleg Kozhemyako, and United Shipbuilding Corporation General Director Andrei Puchkov accompanied Putin on his trip.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also said on Wednesday that VTB and USC were considering the launch of a Far Eastern shipyard specializing in the construction of bulkers, tankers and container ships for the merchant fleet.