Finland's Helsinki Shipyard has confirmed its first ship order since it was sold to a pair of Russian businessmen last month.

One of the new owner's companies, Vodohod, is contracting two ice-class cruiseships, according to Russia's former deputy transport minister Viktor Olersky, who chairs both the yard and Vodohod.

The Interfax news agency cited him as telling reporters: "We ourselves are acting as the purchaser of the first two ice-class ocean cruise liners for 150 to 200 passengers."

Each vessel will cost EUR 105m ($118m), he added.

"The ships are to be delivered by fall 2021. The keels will be laid in the first quarter of next year," Olersky said.

A Vodohod subsidiary will operate the ships. They are expected to cruise in the Arctic and Antarctica.

Germany's federal ministry of education and research is also considering ordering a research ship from the Finnish shipyard, Olersky added.

Big tender backlog

Russia's state United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) sold the yard to Algodor Holdings, owned by Rishat Bagautdinov and Vladimir Kasyanenko.

Their companies operate international shipping and shipbuilding businesses including Vodohod and cargoship owner Pola Group.

The yard added last month that its "tender backlog" stands at EUR 1.5bn, including several cruiseships, icebreakers and LNG carriers.

Letters of intent have already been signed for some of the tenders, it said.

The only current known order at the yard is a 45,000-dwt tanker for Dynacom that was due in May.

USC was said to have been limited in its financing activities at the yard due to sanctions against Russia and had been trying to sell since 2017.

It had bought out partner STX Finland's 50% holding in the yard in 2015, taking 100% control.