The flagship of the Russian shipbuilding industry is the Northern Machine—Building Enterprise (Sevmash) United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) — celebrates its anniversary on December 21: the 85th anniversary of the start of production activities. Mikhail Budnichenko, General Director of the Severodvinsk shipyard, Hero of Labor, told TASS in an interview about the fulfillment of the tasks of the state defense order in the jubilee year, plans for the delivery of nuclear-powered submarines and work on the modernization of the heavy nuclear cruiser project 11442M, as well as updating the plant's production facilities, solving personnel and social problems.
— Mikhail Anatolyevich, with what results is Sevmash completing the jubilee year 2024? Has the company managed to fulfill the tasks of the state defense order in full?
— This year is indeed an anniversary year for Sevmash. On December 21, our company, the largest in the United Shipbuilding Corporation and in the entire industry, turns 85 years old. Founded in 1939, the plant has gone a long way in its formation and development. During this time, our company has become the flagship of Russian shipbuilding, a symbol of reliability and professionalism.
This year, like the previous ones, has been stressful and fruitful for us. There are achievements in all areas — from production to the social sphere. In accordance with the schedules agreed with the Russian Ministry of Defense, the Arkhangelsk and Knyaz Pozharsky submarines have completed a test program during summer navigation. I would like to note that the Prince Pozharsky was taken out of the boathouse this year and put to sea for the first time. Arkhangelsk was decommissioned in 2023, and this year it has successfully completed all stages of testing, and we are preparing the ship for transfer to the Navy. We continue to work on the 11442M project cruiser. As part of government contracts, we carry out maintenance of nuclear submarines at their locations, and we carry warranty obligations for ships of our construction and weapons systems.
— What ships and facilities does Sevmash plan to deliver in 2025?
— As part of the production program for 2025, delivery of orders for the State Defense Industry, civil shipbuilding, and social facilities. There are many tasks, and this is only encouraging. The team is focused on their fulfillment.
— What are the characteristics of the nuclear-powered submarines Knyaz Pozharsky and Arkhangelsk? Do they differ in any way from previous nuclear-powered ships of their class?
— The Prince Pozharsky and Arkhangelsk submarines are serial ships. The Borey-A project cruiser is the fourth in the line, and the Yasen-M project missile carrier is the third. As you know, there are no cardinal differences between the ships of the same series. However, it must be borne in mind that during the construction process, some improvements may be made at the request of the customer. Multipurpose and strategic ships of the fourth generation (which include submarines of the Borey-A and Yasen-M projects — approx. TASS) are superior to third-generation ships in many ways. They are equipped with modern weapons systems, have new qualities in such characteristics as physical fields, maneuverability, etc. Advanced technical solutions of science and production are used in the construction of modern submarines. The fourth—generation nuclear submarines have solved the most important state task - ensuring the technological independence of Russian submarine shipbuilding. Our ships are fully equipped with domestic equipment.
— When will the slipway period for the construction of the nuclear submarine Dmitry Donskoy be completed?
— The cruiser Dmitry Donskoy is being built in accordance with the schedule agreed with the Russian Ministry of Defense. The slipway period of the fifth production ship of the Borey-A project will be completed after we complete the ship in the workshop, conduct hydraulic tests and prepare the submarine for decommissioning.
— It is known that two missile carriers with princely names are being built on the stocks of the enterprise. Are there plans for further laying of nuclear-powered ships? Does Sevmash have the technological capabilities to build a new series of missile carriers?
— The number of orders that are planned to be placed is within the competence of the Russian Ministry of Defense. As for technological capabilities, today our company is one of the most equipped in Russia to create ships of this class. And we are not standing still — in the last decade, as part of the USC modernization and technical re-equipment program, a lot of work has been done at the plant in this direction.
— Recently, almost nothing has been heard about the progress of modernization and repair of heavy surface ships. How are things going on the Admiral Nakhimov nuclear missile carrier?
— The repair and modernization of such a large-displacement cruiser are classified as highly complex. More than 2,000 people are involved in the work, as well as dozens of counterparty organizations. New technological and innovative solutions are being introduced during the modernization of the ship. The Navy's High Command is constantly cooperating with the United Shipbuilding Corporation and Sevmash on all issues. The work is carried out in accordance with the general schedule. The ship will be handed over to the Navy within the time limits stipulated by the contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense.
— Is Sevmash able to carry out high-tech civilian projects as rhythmically as the naval ones under the conditions of sanctions pressure?
— Of course, we fulfill our obligations within the time limits stipulated by the contracts. As part of the United Shipbuilding Corporation's dock program, a project 1418 batoport was built and handed over to the 35th USC shipyard this year. The full volume of documentation — working design, acceptance, operational - has been released by our design bureau. As part of the same program, we are building the Sukhona floating dock. He will be involved in Sevmash's production activities. A complete set of working design documentation is being developed by the Sevmash Design Bureau. The designer is the USC Almaz Design Bureau. The contractor of the contract is JSC Sevmash-Shelf.
We work with many enterprises in the country in the field of marine bearing production. But first of all, we are committed to cooperation in the USC circuit, as it is necessary to maintain the pace of construction of those orders that are being built at the corporation's factories. An example of such an interaction is the manufacture of bearings for icebreakers, which are being built at the USC Baltic Shipyard. In a short time, we designed and organized a special section with the installation of an additional furnace for large bearings. The technology of manufacturing these products was developed on the premises of two mechanical workshops. We manufactured the first set of three main thrust bearings for the icebreaker Chukotka and handed it over to the customer on time. This year, we signed a contract for the manufacture of two more sets of main thrust bearings for the universal nuclear icebreakers Leningrad and Stalingrad. Until 2030, we have contracts in the works for the manufacture of thrust, support and deadwood shaft bearings for frigates, corvettes and other Navy ships under construction at USC shipyards. We produce marine fittings, hydraulic equipment, shock absorbers, filters, semi-finished products of metallurgical production, ship furniture, fluxes for welding electrodes under contracts with other domestic enterprises. We are also working on import substitution — this year we signed a framework agreement with the Arkhangelsk Pulp and Paper Mill for the manufacture of spare parts and specialized equipment.
- 85 years old is more than a respectable age, both for a person and for a factory. We know that the modernization of Sevmash has been underway for several years, but do you have time to upgrade the capacity of an enterprise operating at maximum load?
— We have time. Of course, it is not easy to carry out these works in an operating production environment, but we are fulfilling all our plans. As part of the state program "Development of the military-Industrial Complex", implemented with the participation of the Ministry of Industry and Trade and USC, workshops are being updated, new machinery and equipment are being purchased, and specialized production facilities have been created for the manufacture, testing and completion of fourth- and future-generation submarines. This year, we have started a serious re-equipment of the non-winding demagnetization stand. To accomplish this task, we also invest the plant's own funds. The pace of modernization is affected by the sanctions conditions, but nevertheless, work is underway. For example, this year the second stage of technical re-equipment of the mechanical assembly plant, renovation of power supply facilities and the transport system in two boathouses was completed. The first stage of reconstruction of energy supply facilities and modernization of non-metallic production has been completed. Even before the completion of all the activities, Sevmash can be considered one of the most modern shipyards in Russia with enormous shipbuilding capabilities.
— It is no longer a secret that currently all industrial and especially defense enterprises in the country are experiencing a serious shortage of qualified personnel. Sevmash has always paid attention to this problem, but does the plant manage to stay afloat in the personnel sphere today?
— We try to avoid failures in personnel policy. Today, Sevmash employs more than 28,000 people. This year, more than 1.5 thousand people joined the company's staff.
Sevmash attracts people from various regions of Russia under labor mobility programs. The guys come after serving in scientific and production companies - more than 70% of the military personnel who graduated from our basic educational institutions return to the enterprise. We are working to ensure that graduates of Severodvinsk schools do not leave the city, stay with us, and come to the factory after graduation. Therefore, we are conducting career guidance work in kindergartens, schools, secondary and higher educational institutions. We organize specialized shifts at the All-Russian Children's Center "Eaglet", the annual shipbuilding Olympiad, in which children from all over the country participate, and we develop engineering classes at school No. 20 in Severodvinsk.
We teach students under targeted contracts at various universities in Russia. As part of our work with universities, 35 graduates have been employed this year. In total, 379 young specialists have been employed in this area over the past five years. Every year, students complete internships at Sevmash. This year, 277 students from 25 universities learned the basics of the profession at our factory. All this gives us hope that these teenagers and young people will join our large shipbuilding family in the future.
— What can Sevmash offer potential employees to work in your harsh latitudes?
— First of all, a decent salary and a job that you can be proud of. In addition, we are continuing our own housing program for the company's employees. It has been implemented since 2012, nine houses have been commissioned. We are currently building a whole residential complex "Korabel" consisting of four houses. This year, we will commission the first residential building with 83 apartments. The program is in high demand among our employees, and we will continue to work in this direction.
We have managed to maintain a multi-level social base: there are health resorts, southern health resorts in Yevpatoria and Adler, the Shipbuilder's House, the House of Technology, the Volna restaurant and the DIETER cafe. Recreational classes and competitions are held at the sports facilities of the sports and recreation complex. In cooperation with the administration of Severodvinsk, the construction of an indoor ice arena at the Sever Stadium was completed this year, and in 2026 we will begin to create the largest 50-meter swimming pool in the region. We are working on another promising and very interesting facility, the Immersion information technology and career guidance center. We do not forget about our history — the ancient Nikolo-Korel monastery, from the walls of which the construction of our factory began. This year, together with the charitable foundation for the restoration of the monastery, work began on the restoration of the temple complex. We carried out priority emergency work, engineering surveys in geodesy and geology. There is still a lot of work ahead. I am sure that the implementation of all these socially significant events has a positive impact on the attractiveness of working at Sevmash.
