Dive into AquaCosmos

about this and whether in time of crisis, to develop “science fiction” direction in the work, the correspondent “RG” talked with the Chairman of the Board of Directors of joint stock company “United shipbuilding Corporation” Georgy Poltavchenko.

George S., USC still moved to St. Petersburg. About the logic and appropriateness of that decision said a lot in recent years, the case for small – to bring it to life. Where and how will be the Corporation in the city? How long will take the transfer?

Georgy Poltavchenko: the United shipbuilding Corporation since its inception is the tax resident of St. Petersburg, and its official registration address currently on Marata. But this is only a registration, and the Central office was in Moscow. The decision to move the leadership and managerial apparatus of the Corporation in the city on the Neva made by the President of Russia Vladimir Putin. As you know, the decisions of the Supreme commander are not discussed and implemented. So I can confidently say that the move started. This process will certainly take time. Pandemic coronavirus somewhat mixed our road map according to the schedule the move of the Corporation in 2020, but now gradually the situation begins to improve and the process will maximize.

the Phased move of staff from the capital should begin this summer. At the moment there is a clear understanding of who will move to the city on the Neva river in the forefront. The Corporation underwent a major personnel work, and its results determined the circle of those employees who are definitely ready to move and is not afraid to change Moscow to St. Petersburg.

Anticipating your possible question, I must say that to move ready not all. And a certain number of vacancies as a result of the transfer of office we have, since most family experts are not ready to change their place of work in another city. The staffing process is precise, and the Corporation works with each specialist individually. To lose competent personnel impossible, to find new is also necessary. But I am sure that those jobs that can be formed, we will certainly be able to fill the St. Petersburg specialists. In St. Petersburg there are many competent professionals, people with higher technical and managerial education, many of those who all his life engaged in the Navy and has specialized education.

How will change in connection with moving algorithms OSK?

Georgy Poltavchenko: In Moscow will end up with a small office, where they will be specialists in the field of exhibition activities, advertising, public relations and those who work with customers in Moscow and Central Russia. This division, which better to stay in the capital. In Petersburg the same move in the main departments of the Corporation: military shipbuilding, technical development, IT, logistics and human resource Department.

it is probably worth thinking about what Moscow office it is theoretically possible and some to shrink. And the basis for such assumptions, no matter how amazing the epidemic of the coronavirus. The experience that we’ve been through today, convincingly demonstrated that many of the issues can be safely addressed in distance learning format through online meetings and teleconferences.

the Corporation plans to accommodate up to two addresses. In pereulok Antonenko will be located nerve center of the Corporation. There will be the offices of senior management. It is also planned to rent a big room for departments. Currently considered office space on Vasilievsky island.

Ready for the city to move the OSK? And do you feel the interest and active support of the Smolny?

Georgy Poltavchenko: Know Petersburg and USC is like the spire of the Admiralty and a ship on it. One without the other will not be a single entity. And so the President’s decision to move the Corporation in the city on the Neva river – is absolutely logical. First, the city was transferred to the high command of the Navy where it was located historically. Then with Petersburg was resumed the tradition of the Chief of naval parade at the annual Navy Day.

Now moving corporations. All one chain of logic that makes the city on the Neva is the main centre of military and civil shipbuilding. USC will be comfortable and convenient to communicate with military customers, because the main headquarters of the Navy and all who work with the state defense order, are found in St. Petersburg.

Without the support of the city government it would be difficult to quickly start the process of relocation from Moscow. I literally from the first day I took the job, started to chat with Alexander Dmitrievich Beglov, and he gave all the necessary instructions for the selection for the Corporation for an office building in the city center. Eventually settled on the lane Antonenko.

the lease Agreement with the city signed, and it is financially beneficial agreement, both for the city and for the Corporation. I am sure that in the process of moving, there could be other operational issues, and when you may need the assistance of the government of St. Petersburg do not doubt that the city will close. Petersburg for the relocation of the headquarters of large companies is always tax revenues, human resource, and of course, raising the status and prestige of the second city of the country. So USC will certainly contribute to the promotion and development of the city economy and prestige and the StoliTsy as engineering and intellectual center of Russia.

As the companies are experiencing a situation of pandemic? Did days on the fulfilment of obligations to customers, including export orders, and, most importantly, in the implementation of state defense orders?

Georgy Poltavchenko: On the activity of the enterprises of the pandemic, of course, reflected, but not as disastrous as it might seem.

the headquarters of the Corporation in accordance with the recommendations transferred to the beginning of the epidemic some employees to work remotely. As for the shipyards and design bureaus-that didn’t work they only the first week, which was declared in the country a day off with pay. During this time at USC was formed a permanent headquarters for the prevention of the spread of coronavirus. This headquarters became the center of making all managerial decisions in enterprises. As a result, some employees were left on remote access, and shipyards, factories and design bureaus were gradually included in the work.

it was developed technological scheme according to which each company reported to headquarters on the preparation and observance of sanitary norms in the context of the epidemic. Daily staff received and continues to receive data on presence at the enterprises of means of individual protection of workers. Workplaces are also in compliance with all security measures that prescribe to us the sanitary service of the country.

we would Like to take this opportunity to Express my gratitude to the President of Corporation Alexey L. Rakhmanov, and to all the staff who daily coordinates the work anticreasing staff, for shock work in the difficult conditions of the epidemic. Through their work managed to minimise the impact on the schedule of execution of orders on current projects that need to give in to both military and civil shipbuilding. In the end, some projects will be a slight delay, but strictly within one to two weeks or up to a month, but no more. And these delays sometimes are not associated with the work of the shipyards, but rather with the work of the subcontractors and suppliers. A gap supply chain in the initial period of the epidemic was certainly. But now he is gradually minimised, and eventually all the possible backlog from the schedule must be removed.

At a recent meeting of the Board of the Union of machine builders of Russia was considered the USC of measures to support the industry affected by the impact of the pandemic. Without any major measures, in your opinion, just will not do?

Georgy Poltavchenko: the situation in the industry is dynamic. Every day brings some news and changes. First and foremost, we understand that one of the main issues is the stability of enterprises in the current economic climate. Of course, it is necessary to maintain the financial sustainability of shipyards and factories.

in relation to the activities of the USC, like other major corporations, working with the defense order, is the need to protect existing and approved volume of the state defense order. Because at the moment to provide stable cash flow and working capital for the maintenance and support of business through government contracts.

Also important is the availability of funds. At the suggestion of the USC at the meeting of the Union of machine builders of Russia, also discussed the key interest rate Central Bank of Russia. If the key rate in the foreseeable future will be reduced by one-half percent, it will allow businesses to devote resources to the solution of current pressing issues of production.

speaking of the state defense order. I would like to note that in 2019 for the first time in the history of the USC was performed acceptance program of the SDO.

the state defence order is a key priority for the Corporation. Here the figures speak for themselves: if in the period from 2008 to 2013, USC 11 built and repaired seven ships, from 2014 to 2018 31 built the ship and repaired twenty-three. This year, despite the epidemic, we will strive to meet schedules and deadlines. It will be more difficult, but I am sure that the internal resources of the Corporation for that.

How do you see the future development of the Corporation for the next 5-7-10 years? What you should focus on what areas in the shipbuilding industry will be in demand in the coming years?

Georgy Poltavchenko: It is a rather large question. But I’ll try briefly to outline the basic priorities. I’ve already talked about the state defense order. Still, military shipbuilding is a horse of a Corporation. But despite this, in the near future will gradually become the main and the development of civil shipbuilding component.

the fact that the Navy is gradually saturated with new ships and submarines, and eventually the time will come when all the needs of the fleet in the coming years will be solved. It is the prospect of the decade. But what to do with vacant capacity of the shipyards and design offices? Therefore, the issue of conversion and transition to prioritized work with civil orders is the absolute future of the Corporation. The last few years, the Corporation actively shaping the portfolio of orders. So the conversion and translation companies in the production of vessels for commercial and tourist fleets – a challenge for the coming years. By the way, in the period from 2008 to 2013, the Corporation passed to customers 45 of the civil courts. And in the years 2014-2018 has made 66 orders. In currently in construction are 73 civilian vessel.

the companies already actively implementing a new, modern production methods, train personnel in new competencies. OSK shock working in this direction, encouraging the training of staff and workers of enterprises and retraining of administrative, engineering and technical personnel. Issues of innovation and venture capital investments is also relevant to the agenda of our next years. By the way, I have no doubt that with the move to St. Petersburg these areas will receive new impetus, as it is in St. Petersburg are young engineers, they have attractive offers and interesting startups, and USC, in turn, have certain financial resources to support such ideas and translate them into projects.

I would Like to draw attention to particularly important areas in which the Corporation operates or will apply their skills in the very near future. For example, the development of the Arctic, this is a very serious issue. We are now building the most modern icebreakers and ice class vessels – both military and civilian. No less ambitious task is the fishing fleet of Russia. His creation almost from scratch after the collapse of the Soviet Union is a major project, supported by the President and the government, and it is now actively being implemented.

We are now building and projected a large number of fishing trawlers, fish processing and freezing vessels. Powerful fishing fleet is one of the foundations of food security in Russia, and its creation is a top priority for the next 10-15 years.

I would Like to mention is fantastic, it would seem, the direction of as the study of AquaCosmos. That is, dive into the depths of the oceans and the search for new resources, deep research that is hidden from us under the water.

AquaCosmos? Unusual term. And beautiful…

Georgy Poltavchenko: I Agree. The ocean as space to which we can reach. This term is used by scientists-oceanographers, but shipbuilding is no such special directions. But associated with it competence already have with corporations, and we will continue to improve.

I am Sure that the future development of underwater landers to the most detailed study of the deep sea. We have many design offices extremely successfully work on underwater themes in military orders, but their vast achievements can be quickly applied in a scientific study of the oceans. By the way, as recently as 9 may this year, developed by the Rubin design Bureau Autonomous underwater vehicle “Vityaz” made their first dive to the bottom of the Mariana trench. In honor of the 75th anniversary of victory of the Soviet people�� in the great Patriotic war the unit was installed on the bottom of the trench commemorative pennant. Immersion depth was 10 028 meters. In addition to installing a commemorative pennant, he has conducted numerous hydrologic investigations, made a cartographic survey, took samples of ocean water.

in short, developments and resources to continue the underwater theme of AquaCosmos we also enough, so without a moment’s doubt that the work of the biological resources of the World ocean is today not fantasy, but the objective reality of the near future.

Recently “the Russian newspaper” and “St. Petersburg Vedomosti” under the auspices of the Russian Union of journalists have launched a nationwide journalistic project of “Adaptation” in which reporters offered the most authoritative Russian scientists and practitioners to understand the global impact of the pandemic. The project’s motto was “Think about that later”. Do at USC about how it should be changed after the pandemic, industry and technology of shipbuilding, both civilian and military? What practical lessons taught by the shipbuilders this global crisis?

Georgy Poltavchenko: While it is rather difficult to predict the situation in world shipbuilding market, however would like to draw attention to the fact that, on the one hand, we have a full-blown global financial crisis, the impending recession of the world economy. But, on the other hand, taking into account the rapidly-paced and daily changing situation in Europe and Asia cannot be ruled out, you can open up new, previously not predictable window of opportunity for our businesses and for the Russian shipbuilding expertise. And such a market prospects, in case of their occurrence, cannot be overlooked.

it So happened that the year 2020 was a certain way a kind of frontier for the global and domestic shipbuilding. When the old patterns and approaches may change in the world after the pandemic, and new methods of work and ideas – shoot and become the most popular in the shipbuilding market. Therefore, we are daily monitoring the global shipbuilding news and understand that I can now make a significant leap forward, if you correctly define the strategic objectives and deliver targets.

I would Like to draw attention to the experience of the world shipbuilding in recent years, just relies on the Association of enterprises and resources in large corporations and holding companies with a clear chain of suppliers and contractors. This is a trend. OSK from the start built its work in the framework of these ideas. And that’s why we generally feel good on the world market of military shipbuilding. Now it’s time to pull and civilian component. Here we have toof course, many competitors. It is primarily China and South Korea. But any crisis, the market crisis is not only the immediate problems, it and a wide field of possibilities in the future.

the One who comes to projects in difficult, sometimes declining market, and then eventually comes out the winner, a multiple of increasing its presence in the order, and their future portfolio. So, despite the urgency of the moment, we are extremely optimistic about the future. And I have no doubt that the Corporation and the enterprises entering into it, will surely move forward, through all the market storms, always confidently heading for active and dynamic development of the Russian military and civil shipbuilding.