Ship engine was nearly exported from St. Petersburg illegally

12.11.2010 An attempt of illegal export of military equipment was registered in St. Petersburg. Diesel engine declared as a locomotive one but really designed for a warship (possibly for Project 1136 Burevestnik) was supposed to pass Yaninsky customs post.

As was reported by Northwest Customs Dept, the forwarder was JSC Moltek (St. Petersburg), the consignee – JSC UKRNIKHROM (Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine).

Along with the engine, the exporters had technical documentation explaining how to use and repair it.

"Considering the delivery's geography and impossibility to use such kind of engines for civil vessels, one can assume that the engine was meant (ordered) in the interests of security agencies of foreign states to carry out repairs and (or) modernization of military hardware", reported Northwest Customs Dept.

Based on the fact of illegal export of military equipment, the criminal case was initiated in accordance with cl. 188/2, RF Criminal Code ("Contraband"). The investigation is in progress.

Editor of the Central Navy Portal comments:

It is absolutely unclear what exactly engine was to be exported. Most likely, it was one of diesel engines produced by JSC Zvezda; that is a kind of engines used in auxiliary powerplant of Project 1135 ships. However, analogous diesels are also used in powerplants of locomotives and fast-speed hydrofoil vessels. Thus, available information is not enough for unambiguous statement that the exported engine was necessarily meant for a military ship.