Patrol Ship Zhemchug to Set Afloat in April

16.04.2012 Third Project 22460 littoral zone patrol ship Zhemchug built by JSC Almaz Shipbuilding Firm (St. Petersburg) will be launched in third decade of Apr 2012, a source in the shipyard told Central Navy Portal. According to him, the press won't be invited.

Project 22460 Okhotnik (design name Ropit-Mars-06) second-rank patrol ship was developed by Severnoye Design Bureau by order of Russian FSB Coast Guard as a new-generation vessel meeting requirements of 21-st century. She is meant to replace several obsolete and overaged projects of coast guard ships and patrol craft.

Delivering a speech at solemn ensign-hoisting ceremony on patrol ship Rubin on May 12, 2010, FSB Director Alexander Bortnikov announced that at least 25 ships of that project would be constructed in St. Petersburg.

Lead ship of Project 22460 – patrol ship Rubin, serial number 501 – was laid down at Almaz Shipbuilding Firm in Sept 2007 and launched in the summer of 2009. At present, the ship is based in Novorossiysk serving within Black Sea and Azov Coast Guard Dept. In 2010 Rubin successfully passed storm trials and fully proved her performance characteristics. Tests of helicopter-type UAV Horizon Air S-100 took place on board the ship in the fall of 2010.

First serial ship built by Almaz – patrol ship Brilliant, serial number 502 – was launched in Nov 2011; outfitting works are presently coming to end. The ship is being prepared for crew accommodation and will start sea trials late in May. The fourth hull (serial number 504) is under construction in the yard but has not obtained a name yet.

It is planned to kick off construction of such patrol ships for Far East border guards at JSC Vostochnaya Verf (Vladivostok).