Navy Commander Sailed Down Neva River on Tugboat

07.06.2012 Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief Vice Admiral Viktor Chirkov on June 6 visited JSC Pella Shipyard located in Otradnoye, Leningrad region. The visit was a part of Chirkov's inspection of Russian shipyards' capabilities. On his very first day in the new office, the Navy Commander said he was laying hopes on shipbuilding industry.

Visiting the shipyard, VADM Chirkov inspected newest tugs, in particular, Delfin and Kasatka which have been already accepted by state commission and are to head for homebase Severomorsk soon. On board Delfin tug Viktor Chirkov talked with shipmaster, inspected internal premises and lounged in the shipmaster's chair. After that, the commander and accompanied persons boarded another tug and sailed downstream the Neva River to visit new Pella's production site which is to start working on new vessels next year, including military ones.

When visiting the shipyard, the navy chief was accompanied by director of Pella Shipyard Gerbert Tsaturov and Hero of Russia VADM Alexei Burilichev.

Visit of Pella Shipyard is a part of Chirkov's program in St. Petersburg. Since June 4 he is holding a conference with commanders of fleets, divisions, and commanding officers of 1-st and 2-nd rank ships. Over 100 top-ranking naval officers are attending the conference which takes place in the Kuznetsov Naval Academy and will last till June 8.

Recall that JSC Pella Shipyard is specialized in construction of new-generation tugs, such as docking tugs, pushers, and pilot boats. The yard manufactures tugs for Russian Navy as well.