Yantar Shipyard launches RV Yantar for Ministry of Defense
Russian Baltic Shipyard Yantar on December 5, 2012 held an official launching ceremony for oceanographic survey ship, which was given the shipbuilder’s brand name, the Kaliningrad region government said. The ceremony was attended by regional government’s Deputy PM Konstantin Suslov.
The oceanographic and hydrographic survey ship is the second vessel ordered by the Russian Ministry of Defense. The ship was laid down two and a half years ago. This is a unique order for Kaliningrad shipbuilders. The factory had never built ships of such purpose and size. The vessel is scheduled for completion in 2013. Then the ship will undergo sea trials and in 2014 the shipbuilder will conduct the vessel’s DSV testing, after which the oceanographic / hydrographic vessel will be commissioned into service with the Northern Fleet.
The vessel will be outfitted with oceanographic equipment to perform acoustical, biological, physical and geophysical surveys. The ship has a set of unmanned and manned DSVs: "Mir", "Rus", "Consul." In addition to research mission, the submersibles will be used for rescue operations.
Kaliningrad-based Baltic Shipbuilding Plant “Yantar” (Amber) was founded on July 8,1945 on the basis of a Koenigsberg unit of German’s Schichau Werft. Yantar Shipyard specializes in building and repairs of warships and civil boats. Throughout the years the Shipyard has built 154 warships and more than 500 merchant vessels. The Russian Government holds majority stake in the shipbuilding firm through Western Center of Shipbuilding, a subsidiary of state-owned United Shipbuilding Corporation.
