MOSCOW. Jan 23 (Interfax) - The Russian Navy's Chief Commander Nikolai Yevmenov has visited the Admiralty Shipyards facilities in St. Petersburg to inspect progress in executing the state defense order, including the construction of the Ivan Papanin icebreaking patrol ship, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.
"Admiralty Shipyards plans to deliver the Ivan Papanin patrol icebreaker to the Russian Navy by the end of 2024. At present, the ship is undergoing mooring tests. Sea trials of the ship are scheduled for April," the statement said.
"The Ivan Papanin icebreaking patrol ship will be efficient in Arctic missions, as part of groups and squadrons of the Navy's ships, to provide security in Arctic regions," Yevmenov said.
"The ship has an unlimited navigability and a large cruising range, and is also fitted with modern hardware and armament for use in core missions," Yevmenov was quoted in the statement as saying.
Currently, "the Navy's joint training center is training the crew who will take up residence in the ship in March this year," he said.
The project 23550 Ivan Papanin patrol icebreaker is designed to guard Russia's maritime economic activities and navigation in the Arctic maritime zone, the ministry said.
During the visit, Yevmenov "heard reports from the shipyard's top management regarding the serial construction of non-nuclear submarines and icebreaking surface ships in accordance with the plans to further equip the Navy," the statement said.