The Russian Navy commander-in-chief Viktor Chirkov arrived in Ekaterinburg this week. During his business trip, the commander-in-chief visited defence companies involved in carrying out the government defence contract. Mr. Chirkov paid a visit to Ural Diesel Engine Plant, Ural Turbine Plant, Novator Experimental Design Bureau, Kalinin Machine Building Plant, and held a meeting on future cooperation in military shipbuilding.
The purpose of the trip is to assess the quality of executing the government defence order for the Navy and to discuss import substitution under cooperation in military shipbuilding.
It is already known that gas turbines for the Russian Navy's surface ships will be manufactured by Ural Turbine Plant. Previously, such GTs were supplied by the Ukrainian company.
Find out other interesting top news of this week in our final review.
Shipbuilding and Shiprepair
New Icebreakers to Meet Delivery Deadline
The current economic situation will not affect the construction of new nuclear icebreakers. According to director general of Rosatomflot Vyacheslav Ruksha, the lead nuclear icebreaker will undergo trials at the end of 2017. The first LK-60Ya-type multipurpose nuclear icebreaker, being built by the Baltic Shipyard, will be inducted into service no later than the end of 2017.
Russian Navy to Accept the Alexander Obukhov Composite Ship in November
Built for the Russian Navy by Sredne-Nevsky Shipyard (St. Petersburg), the new generation lead mine countermeasures vessel Alexander Obukhov (Type 12700) has commenced harbour acceptance trials. The Alexander Obukhov will be inducted into the navy in November 2015.
Modernised Marshal Ustinov Missile Cruiser to Join the Fleet in 2015
This year Zvyozdochka Shiprepair Centre (Severodvinsk) plans to deliver the modernised Marshal Ustinov missile cruiser, a new Akademik Kovalev armament support ship, and the repaired Vladikavkaz diesel-electric submarine to the Russian Navy.
DP Shipbuilding and Engineering PTE LTD Completes Construction of Ship for Robinzon Company
The Singapore company completed construction of a large fishing vessel for Robinzon company (Murmansk). The investment amount of 1.74 billion roubles was financed by the Murmansk VTB Bank. The freezer trawler was delivered by the Singapore shipyard to Robinzon company and registered at the port of Murmansk.
Admiral Chabanenko Submarine Hunter Finishes First Docking Phase
Shipyard 35, a branch of Zvyozdochka Shiprepair Centre, completes the first docking phase of a large submarine hunter of the Northern Fleet, the Admiral Chabanenko. The shipyard managed to fulfill almost all scheduled work within the docking period. For inspection and repair, they dismantled propellers, propeller shafts, stabilizers and a steering gear.
Sevmash Ready to Modernise Flooding Basin for Large Ship Construction
Sevmash shipyard plans to expand its flooding basin in the longer term. It will allow Severodvinsk to build large surface ships. The Sevmash's high priority is the construction of nuclear powered submarines. To speed up their construction, the flooding basin will be modernised too.
Keel of the Fifth Yasen-M-Type Nuclear Submarine Laid Down on 19 March
The keel of the fifth Yasen-M-type multipurpose nuclear submarine will be laid down by Sevmash on 19 March. It will be called the Arkhangelsk. The Severodvinsk lead submarine of Type Yasen 885 joined the Russian Navy in 2013. In 2009, 2013 and 2014, the keels of three more upgraded submarines of Type 885M, the Kazan, the Novosibirsk and the Krasnoyarsk were laid down.
New Diving Boats Join the Black Sea Fleet
In 2014, the year of adding the Crimea to Russia, after almost a quarter-century break, the Black Sea sailors received new boats. The first was a multipurpose modular boat of Type 23370. On 4 February 2015, Sevastopol raised St. Andrew's flags on board the two advanced diving boats, the SMK-2094 and the RVK-1045, which recently had undergone the state and sea acceptance trials and had been accepted by the Black Sea Fleet.
Events
Black Sea Fleet Rescuers Receive a ROV Capable of Operating at 1 km Depth
The EPRON rescue vessel of the Black Sea Fleet has received a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), Pantera Plus, capable of operating at 1000 m depth. The ROV is equipped with two mechanical arms which can hold rope scissors and a circular saw for cutting complex structures up to 90 mm thick.
Ust-Kamchatka Commercial Seaport State Corporation Winds up an Estate
The Ust-Kamchatka Commercial Seaport property arrested for debt is offered for sale. The auction will be held by the Territorial Administration of the Federal Property Management Agency on 5 and 6 February. The company owes 88.5 million rubles to various claimants. The main part of the debt is the tax payments.
Ministry of Transport Reduces the Amount of Financing Under Maritime Transport Programme
The Russian Ministry of Transport reduces the amount of financing under the Maritime Transport Programme making part of the Federal Transport Programme by 27 375 billion roubles till 2020, according to the explanatory note to the draft Regulation on Amendments to the Federal Target Program "Development of Transport Infrastructure in Russia" (2010 - 2020).
Landing Ship to Join Russian Navy
The Mediterranean squadron of the Russian Navy will accept a large landing ship of the Northern Fleet, the Alexander Otrakovsky. The large landing ship of the Northern Fleet Alexander Otrakovsky, earlier subjected to planned preventive maintenance and replenishment in the Novorossiysk naval base of the Black Sea Fleet, set sail to the Mediterranean Sea.
State Duma Asks France to Pay for Mistral-Class Ships
The head of the State Duma Defence Committee Vladimir Komoedov said that if France fails to deliver Mistral-class amphibious assault ships in the near future, Russia will no longer be obliged to wait for the execution of contractual obligations. It means that Russia can demand to immediately return the funds spent on the execution of this contract, together with the penalties.
Construction of New Seaport for Exporting Coal to Asia-Pacific Countries to Start in Primoriye This Year
The construction of the Sever (North) port near Cape Petrovsky in the Vostochny (Eastern) port of Nakhodka amounted to 36 billion roubles will start this year. The port with up to 20 million ton capacity will be focused on shipping coal to the Asian and Pacific Ocean region countries. The construction is scheduled for spring 2015.
Pacific Fleet Group Sets Sail on Combat Mission to Visit the Ports of Nine Countries
The ships and support vessels of the Pacific Fleet set sail from Vladivostok to the Pacific ocean on combat mission. The Pacific Fleet ships will visit nine countries. The sea force comprising the Pacific Fleet ships, namely the large submarine hunter Admiral Panteleev, the tanker Pechenga and the tug SB-522, under the command of the captain 1st rank Alexander Potapov, departed from Vladivostok to take a long-haul voyage.
Crew of the Omsk Nuclear Submarine Gets Highest Score Among the Russian Navy
The Omsk nuclear submarine of the Pacific Fleet, under the command of the captain 2nd rank Alexander Tolstykh, was recognized the best in the Russian Navy after cruise missile firings. The diploma and challenge cup were awarded to the captain of the submarine when the submarine returned to the Pacific Fleet base in Kamchatka.
Ust-Luga Company Completes the Port Construction and Changes the Director General
On 3 February, the Board of Directors of Ust-Luga Company finalised the decison on the actual completion of the government contract with the Ministry of Transport for creating a port in the Luga Bay of the Gulf of Finland and on the appointment of the Director General. The Board of Directors fired the acting director general Andrey Romanchik and appointed a new director general Victoria Fedorova.
Samarga Motorship Released Under Warranty and Pattana Motorship Repeatedly Arrested for Debts
The Samarga and the Pattana ships, whose crews consist of Russian sailors, have been topical this week. Both motorships suffer similar problems: huge wage debts. The owners of the two ships are said to be making efforts to resolve the conflicts.
Incidents and Accidents
Boat Carrying African Migrants Sinks off Yemen's Coast
The boat carrying illegal African migrants sank off the coast of Yemen. One man died, the other 35 people are missing. The boat was carrying 49 people. The incident took place off Yemen's south-western coast in the Bab-el-Mandeb strait. The boat was overturned by strong currents and high waves.
Pirates Attack a Tanker off Nigeria
The Kalamos tanker flying the flag of Malta was boarded by armed pirates off the coast of Nigeria. The attackers killed the chief mate and took three hostages. The attack took place in the waters between Nigeria and Cameroon, when the ship was in the roadstead, waiting for loading. There were 23 crew members on board. Pirates kidnapped three crew members.
Foreign Colleagues
American Nuclear Submarine Arrives in Korea for Training
The Olympia nuclear-powered submarine of the U.S. Navy arrived in South Korea to participate in military training for two countries. On Thursday, the U.S. Navy submarine and South Korean submarines will start 3-day training. The training will be focused on detecting enemy submarines and surface ships near the Korean Peninsula.
Japanese Shipyard Awarded with a Contract for Construction of Very Large Container Ships
The Japanese shipyard Imabari Shipbuilding Co., Ltd has been awarded with a contract for construction of 11 container ships with a capacity of 20 000 TEU each. This is the first order for such huge ships in the world. The ships will supposedly be 400 m long and approx. 59 m wide. The first ship is to be delivered in early 2018.
Chinese Bank and China Shipping Group Sign an Agreement for 14.4 Billion USD
The Chinese Bank and China Shipping Group shipping company signed a strategic cooperation agreement for an amount of 14.4 billion US dollars. The agreement provides for enhanced cooperation in crediting, cash management, investment banking and insurance.
New Terminal by Maersk to Start Operating in Costa Rica in 2018
The Moin Container Terminal on the East coast of Costa Rica will start operating in 2018. The design capacity of the terminal is 2.7 million TEU. Its cost is about 1 billion US dollars. The terminal is being built by APM Terminals, a terminal operator of Maersk Group. According to the concession agreement, the company has 36 months to launch the first stage of the terminal.
