St. Petersburg is the City of Shipbuilders

1. St. Petersburg is one of the largest industrial centres of Russia. Shipbuilding is among its main industries. The history of shipbuilding in our city goes back to the very beginning of the 18th century. In 1704 the Admiralty was built. It was the first shipyard in St. Petersburg and certainly the most significant naval construction of Russia in those days. The first Russian warship “Poltava” was launched there in 1712.

2. Nowadays there are many shipyards in St. Petersburg. The following are of the greatest importance: the Admiralty, the Baltic and the Northern shipyards. They are leading yards with the highest level of technical ability. It is worth mentioning ¹ here that the legendary cruiser “Aurora” was built by the Admiralty yard.

3. The equipment and facilities of the shipyard as well as the skill of the shipbuilders have especially progressed since World War II and are progressing today. Vessels which meet all the requirements of the advanced shipbuilding are supplied to the Russian fleet by these shipyards. They are delivered not only to the Russian Merchant Marine but to other countries as well, including India and China.

4. The world’s first nuclear-powered icebreaker Lenin was built on the ways of the Admiralty yard. It initiated the construction of more powerful icebreakers: the “Arktika”, the “Sibir”, the “Russia”. They were put into operation by the Baltic yard. Now one more icebreaker is being built by the same yard.

5. The Northern shipyard is actively engaged in construction of the most advanced types of ro-ro and container vessels. They are designed for world-wide operations and equipped with the most modern electronic instruments. Their area of operation is unlimited.

6. There are many plants in St. Petersburg which offer up-to-date equipment for our shipbuilding. They supply ships with marine engines, screw propellers ² and rudders.

7. To carry out design work many enterprises were established in the city. They are engaged in designing ship hulls, propulsion machinery and navigation devices.

8. It is in our city that ³ such outstanding scientists as S.O.Makarov, A.N.Krylov, P.A.Titov, I.G.Bubnov, Yu.A.Shimansky, V.V.Semionov -Tan-Shansky and others worked and helped shipbuilding development.

9. During the Great Patriotic War Leningrad shipbuilders heroically defended the city. In the besieged city they constructed barges which carried armament and foodstuffs across lake Ladoga.

¹ it is worth mentioning – стоит упомянуть

² screw propeller – гребной винт

³ it is in our city that … – именно в нашем городе …