Court obliged Pacific Fleet to pay for repair of SSN Omsk

08.04.2011 Moscow Arbitration Court sustained a claim of Zvezda shipyard which is the only plant specialized in nuclear submarine repairs in the Far East demanding Pacific Fleet (PF) to pay RUR 65.8 mln for repair of SSN Omsk. The fleet has been refusing to pay this sum since Aug 2008 when SSN Omsk [same-typed with SSN Kursk] was decommissioned after repair, reports FedPress today.

"Overall financing of the contract signed in 2007 was determined as RUR 450 mln", says the court decision. "The complainant refers that additional malfunctions were found during test trials so that the necessity of extra works became apparent. As explained by the shipyard's representatives, additional repair was needed to recover operability of the submarine, although was not specified in the contract".

As follows from the case files, execution of additional works was confirmed by acceptance certificate signed on Aug 12, 2008 by PF Deputy Commander. According to this certificate, cost of additional repairs was evaluated as RUR 65.8 mln.

The judge Tatiana Ishanova decided on Apr 5 that once the defendant – FSUE Pacific Fleet Administration – could not pay the debt, the monetary assets should be charged from Russian defense ministry at the expense of federal budget. The decision can be appealed in 9th Arbitration Appeal Court within a month.

SSN Omsk was built under Project 949A Antei. The submarine was laid down at Sevmash shipyard (Severodvinsk) in July 1989 and launched in May 1993. Having submerged displacement of about 24,000 tons, the sub is capable to dive at 500 meters and armed with 24 torpedoes and 24 Granit antiship cruise missiles.