New transport ship for Russian Navy will be laid down at JSC Zvezdochka Ship Repair Center early in Dec 2011, told a source in defense industry to Central Navy Portal.
Project 20180TV will constitute an armament support ship. According to some sources, it will be used to supply the newest Borei-class nuclear-powered submarines with Bulava missiles. The project was developed by Almaz Central Design Bureau (St. Petersburg). Its prototype is Project 20180 Zvezdochka salvage tug delivered to the Navy in July 2010. Basically, the new ship will have the same design with Zvezdochka tug, but it will be 10 meters longer and equipped with more advanced facilities.
For the first time it was reported about building of a new transport ship for Russian Navy on Sept 26 at solemn ceremony related to 60-th jubilee of the shipyard’s Director General Vladimir Nikitin.
During the celebration, V. Nikitin offered to name the new ship after known designer of nuclear submarines academician Sergei N. Kovalev. Directors of Zvezdochka and Sevmash shipyards as well as Rubin Central Design Bureau addressed to Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Vladimir Vysotsky asking to give the name of Akademik Kovalev to the new ship. So far, Vysotsky has not given official reply.
Initially, the keel-laying ceremony was supposed to take place at Zvezdochka late in Nov, but due to technical and organizational problems it was postponed for early Dec 2011.
[mappress] World Maritime News Staff, November 18, 2011