Yantar Shipyard holds launching ceremony for Russian Black Sea Fleet's frigate “Admiral Essen” (photo release)
Kaliningrad, Russia based JSC Baltic Shipyard “Yantar” on November 8 hosted an official launching ceremony for the second serial frigate of Admiral Grigorovich class "Admiral Essen" ordered for the Black Sea Fleet of Russia, the Ministry of Defense press office said.
Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy Adm. Viktor Chirkov who attended the ceremony, said that "the Project 1135.6 six frigates series will significantly enhance the capacity of the surface vessels component of the Black Sea Fleet."
"The Black Sea Fleet ships upgrade has been a longstanding challenge and requires solution. Since recently, the Black Sea units began to perform duties as part of a permanent task force of the Russian Navy in the Mediterranean Sea. The Project 1135.6 frigates which from 2015 will start replenishing the combat fleet, will allow to fully solve this problem," the Ministry press service quoted Admiral Viktor Chirkov as saying.
"We expect to take delivery of the first two frigates of this project from Yantar Shipyard in 2015. A series of six diesel-electric submarines currently under construction at Admiralty Shipyards is also scheduled for delivery. Thus, by 2017, will fill the gap in updating the surface and submarine forces of the Black Sea Fleet,"the Russian Navy commander said.
Baltic Shipyard “Yantar” based in Kaliningrad, Russia 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.
