Dutch Flag over Leninska Kuznia

The Kyiv-based Leninska Kuznia Plant has launched the dry- cargo ship Robo International D. V. It is already known that the vessel will be used to transport containers on various routes between the Black and North Seas.

This was a unique order for the Kyiv shipbuilders: never before had they had to manufacture floating devices as many as 110 meters long. The Dutch, past masters in shipbuilding, put their trust in Ukrainian quality and were not mistaken: the ship complies with all requirements of Lloyds, and its cost (DM 1.2 million) is about 20% lower than in Western dockyards. It took only an 8-month period to complete construction. Yet, as the plant general manager Petro Bolindar believes, vessels like this can be made even faster. The pilot project envisions the construction of another four vessels for the Dutch side, which means the plant's workforce is to be provided with work and wages in the near future. The example of Leninska Kuznia is not typical of an industry in deep crisis; rather, this is an exception to the rule. Thus it is too early to speak about a revival of Ukrainian shipbuilding. The launching of at least one ship under the Ukrainian flag might be a precursor to such revival, but Ukraine obviously cannot afford this luxury today.