Modular Auxiliary Fleet Production to Be Established in the Nizhny Novgorod Region

Modular Auxiliary Fleet Production to Be Established in the Nizhny Novgorod Region

Widson, a company specializing in the development of modular auxiliary fleet vessels, plans to establish its own production facility within the Kulibin Special Economic Zone in Dzerzhinsk. The project is being implemented with the support of the Nizhny Novgorod Region Development Corporation.

The announcement followed a working meeting between Sergey Konovalov, Head of the Nizhny Novgorod Branch of the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping, and Oleg Sergeev, CEO of Widson. The parties discussed further cooperation in shipbuilding, certification, and bringing products to the maritime industry market.

Particular attention was given to the Register’s services related to company certification, the implementation of quality management systems, and ensuring environmental and industrial safety.

Successful Experience and New Plans

In 2025, under the technical supervision of the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping, Widson developed detailed design documentation for the WIDSON-50 modular self-elevating platform. The vessel was built at a Chinese shipyard and successfully completed the full RS survey process. Following testing, the platform demonstrated high standards of reliability and safety.

The WIDSON-50 platform is currently being used in the construction of hydraulic structures for the El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant in Egypt.

The company has now made the strategic decision to localize production in Russia. A legal entity has already been registered within the Kulibin SEZ, and a production workshop that fully meets the project’s technological requirements has been selected.

Widson’s immediate plans include the development and launch of a full range of modular self-propelled ice-class platforms, as well as multicats — multifunctional auxiliary vessels.

The Project’s Importance for the Region

Cooperation between the Nizhny Novgorod Branch of the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping and Widson will significantly expand the range of domestically produced equipment for the maritime industry and accelerate the introduction of innovative modular solutions into Russian shipbuilding.

The establishment of production at the Kulibin SEZ will be an important step in the development of the Nizhny Novgorod Region’s shipbuilding cluster and in strengthening the country’s technological sovereignty in the auxiliary fleet sector.