Modern Russian fleet to boost offshore oil
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin yesterday urged his government to give Russia a modern fleet of ships for its flourishing energy sector. His first official visit as PM went to the Admiralty Shipyard in Sankt Petersburg
-The principal direction is the creation of a complete line of ships and equipment to extract and transport oil and gas from offshore deposits, Putin told a meeting of top officials in his hometown of Sankt Petersburg, The Moscow Times reports with reference to Reuters. -This includes drilling platforms, ice-class gas carriers and icebreakers, the prime minister added. Shipbuilding is promoted as a major investment priority for the new government. When president, Putin launched a federal program worth 136 billion RUB aimed at reviving the sector, which has been steadily declining since the fall of the Soviet Union.
