The contract was signed between Sevmash plant and the representatives of the US CTR program. This was voiced by Sevmashs director general Vladimir Pastukhov. We are also trying to win the tender for the similar work for Murmansk Shipping Company, Pastukhov said. In the past the shipyard fabricated 24 casks under the ex-Minatom-placed order. It cost US$ 3.5 million. The money was allocated by the Threat Reduction Agency under the U.S. Department of Defense within the tri-lateral American-Russian-Norwegian program for Arctic Military Environmental Cooperation (ÀÌÅÑ).
The experts believe Russia should produce more than 200 casks till 2010 to accommodate spent nuclear from all the retired submarines. The special collection sites for temporary storage (50 years max.) for these casks are to be built at the Russian navy bases.