Defense shipyard Zvezda claims RUR 65 mln for repairs of SSGN Omsk

07.09.2010 Moscow arbitration court put on trial the claim of JSC Zvezda Shipyard to collect RUR 65.794 mln from Russian defense ministry as cost recovery for capital repairs of 3-gen SSGN Omsk, reported a newsman of Russian Agency for Judicial Information (RAJI) from the courtroom.

The claimant's agent said during preliminary court hearing that defense ministry had concluded state contract with Zvezda Shipyard to repair the submarine. The government assigned RUR 449 mln to extend lifetime of SSGN Omsk, although shipwrights had found during the overhaul that some additional works not specified in the contract were needed.

The claimant completely repaired the sub having spent extra RUR 65 mln and petitioned the court considering the extra charge as unjust enrichment of the appellee.

Defense ministry's lawyer replied in his turn that all repair works have been ordered by FSI Pacific Fleet Administration which was the third party.

The Far East's defense shipyard Zvezda delivered 3-gen SSGN Omsk to Pacific Fleet (PF) in Aug 2008 which had passed capital repairs; the delivery ceremony was held in Bolshoy Kamen, Primorsky Krai.

JSC Zvezda Shipyard is one of the Russia's leading shipyards. Being the only company in the Far East specialized in re-equipment and upgrade of nuclear submarines, Zvezda is engaged in repairs of PF subs, says the yard's official website. In autumn 2009 Russian government decided to establish up-to-date fishery-oriented shipyard on the basis of Zvezda jointly with S Korea.

PF has in inventory nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines, nuclear-powered attack submarines, diesel submarines; littoral and ocean-going surface ships; naval missile-carrying, ASW, and fighter aviation; land troops; and coastal defense units.