Corvette Boiky was launched in St. Petersburg

19.04.2011 Corvette Boiky, the second serial ship of Project 20380 was launched on Apr 15, 2011 at Severnaya Verf shipyard (St. Petersburg).

The solemn launching ceremony was attended by St. Petersburg vice governor M. Oseyevsky, Baltic Fleet (BF) Commander Vice Admiral V. Chirkov, Severnaya Verf director general A. Fomichev, representative of the shipyard owner JSC United Shipbuilding Corporation V. Vukolov, chief engineer of Almaz Design Bureau K. Golubev, other officials and honorable guests.

Corvette Boiky (on other classification escort ship, hull number 1003) was laid down at Severnaya Verf in July 2005. In contrast to corvette Stereguschiy which is the lead ship of this project, armament of Boiky has been changed, e.g. air defense capability is significantly increased. Instead of missile/gun antiaircraft system Kortik-M which is Stereguschiy's distinctive feature, Boiky is armed with the newest SAM system Redut. As long as Boiky is the third hull of the project, the shipyard has fully mastered this technology. Time delay was caused by non-systematic financing. The corvette is scheduled to join Russian Navy in 2012.

Boiky (stands for "Brisk") is the forth warship bearing such name in Russian/Soviet Navy's history. The first one was coal-powered torpedo boat participated in the Russo-Japanese War. The second one was Black Sea Fleet Project 7 destroyer built before WW2, fought in the Great Patriotic War and awarded with the Red Banner Order for naval merits. Immediate predecessor of the corvette was Project 57bis missile ship modernized and refitted into large ASW ship which had excellently served in Northern Fleet.

The last commanding officer of Northern Fleet large ASW ship Boiky Capt 1 rank (retired) O. Gurinov triumphantly handed over Soviet naval ensign of his ship to Capt 1 rank A. Khasbulayev who heads the brigade of built and repaired ships. He will hand over the flag to the crew of corvette Boiky when they settle in the ship. After consecration of the corvette, the dock caissons were opened and ship's screws touched the native environment.

The shipyard's assistant general director Natalia Babenko who christened the ship having broken a traditional champagne bottle at the corvette's board at first attempt became the ship's godmother.

When the launching ceremony was over, the yard's director and BF Commander V. Chirkov answered questions of reporters. In particular, A. Fomichev said that corvette Soobrazitelny currently undergoing mooring trials would be delivered to Baltic Fleet this year; delivery date of frigate Admiral Gorshkov would be postponed to 2012; and fourth serial corvette of upgraded Project 20380 would be laid down in May. So far, the hull number 1005 has not obtained a name. As was previously reported, the corvette may have a name of Provorny.