ST.PETERSBURG, April 28 (AVN) - The local Severnaya Verf shipyard laid the keel of an entertainment-class service crew boat for the Leningrad naval base on Saturday.
The shipyard is a part of the New Programmes and Concepts holding and industrial company. The value of the contract between the company and the naval base makes about USD2m, the Military News Agency learned.
The lay-down ceremony was held in the regular matter and was not attended by any high-ranking officials.
The Project 21270 boat was designed by the Almaz central design bureau. Its project was approved by Navy Commander Vladimir Kuroyedov in late March.
The boat's length is 27.4m, width 6.5m, displacement 85t and speed 25 knots, Svetlana Yermolayeva, aide to the Severnaya Verf director general, told the Agency. It is fitted with all up-to-date communication and navigation equipment and VIP-class furniture. The vessel's deck floor will be made of teak, as on the Shtandart yacht owned by Russia's last tsar. The entertainment cabin is intended for 20 people, while the double-level VIP-cabin will be decorated with modern design, Yermolayeva said.
Under the contract the vessel is to go on sea trials in autumn 2002 and to be commissioned by the customer in March 2003. President Vladimir Putin is expected to use this boat for reviewing the naval parade timed to St. Petersburg's 300th birthday.