Severnaya Verf to Lay Down Two Ships

30.01.2012 Keels for two new vessels for Russian Navy – third Project 22350 frigate Admiral Golovko and Project 20385 lead corvette Gremyaschiy – will be triumphantly laid down on Feb 1 at 3 pm in slipways of Severnaya Verf shipyard, the yard's press service told Central Navy Portal.

That is going to be the most significant event in St. Petersburg's naval and industrial life in 2012. The ceremony will be attended by Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral V. Vysotsky, Baltic Fleet (BF) Commander Rear Admiral V. Chirkov, Pacific Fleet (PF) Acting Commander Rear Admiral S. Avakiants, Northern Fleet (NF) Commander Vice Admiral V. Korolev, Black Sea Fleet (BSF) Commander Rear Admiral A. Fedotenkov, and Caspian Flotilla (CF) Commander Rear Admiral S. Alekminsky. The top-ranking naval officers are taking part in annual forum led by CinC in St. Petersburg.

Members of St. Petersburg Government, representatives of JSC Severnaya Verf shipyard and JSC United Shipbuilding Corporation will participate in the ceremony as well.

The new-generation Project 22350 frigate Admiral Golovko (serial number 923) will become the third ship of this type. Lead frigate – Admiral Gorshkov – is under construction at Severnaya Verf since 2006 and is expected to join Russian Navy by the yearend. The second hull – Admiral Kasatonov, (serial number 922) – was laid down in Nov 2009 and will be launched in 2012.

Project 20385 corvette Gremyaschiy (serial number 1005) is the follow-up of Project 20380 corvette Stereguschiy built by Severnaya Verf and delivered to the Navy in 2007. Second ship of that type – corvette Soobrazitelny – hoisted naval ensign in Oct 2011. Third hull – corvette Boiky – is being presently outfitted afloat and after trials will be commissioned in this year. Hull of the next corvette – Stoiky – is to be launched in 2012. The Project 20385 ship differs from her predecessors by larger dimensions and newer missile system.