SEVASTOPOL. Aug. 23 (Interfax-AVN) - Repairs of Ukraine's only Zaporizhzhia submarine are to be completed by Repair Plant No. 13 of the Russian Black Sea Fleet located in the city of Sevastopol, a spokesman for the Ukrainian Defense Ministry told Interfax-Military News Agency on Friday.
The spokesman said that the Zaporizhzhia was moored at the town of Balaklava for some five years and required dock repairs and new storage batteries that were to be procured abroad.
Some 50t of high-quality steel were produced by the Mariupol- based plant for renewal of the light hull and repairs of the main ballast cistern. Repairs of the hull were performed by the Ukrainian Metallist plant, and the submarine is still accommodated at the enterprise. Repair operations and purchases of the storage batteries were funded by the Ukrzaliznitsa company. The batteries were procured in Greece, their cost mounting up to UAH18m (more than USD3m).
The submarine is to be dispatched to Plant No. 13 in September. The repairs to be carried out by the Russian enterprise provide for fitting the ship with new storage batteries, mending electric circuits, improving capabilities of the powerplant and communications assets.
Repair Plant No. 13 has an extensive experience in repairing submarines of the type. Experts of the enterprise carried out repairs of the Varshavyanka submarine of the Russian Black Sea Fleet last year.
The Zaporizhzhia is to put out to sea in February 2003.