Ensign Hoisting Date for Research Ship Seliger Appointed

17.12.2012 On Dec 25, Russian naval ensign would be hoisted on research ship Seliger which has successfully finished state trials, a source in the manufacturing shipyard Yantar told Central Navy Portal. Presently, the ship is stationed in the Novorossiysk Naval Base.

Built by the Yantar shipyard in Kaliningrad, the ship is designed for tests of new equipment, including manned stand-alone and non-autonomous submersibles, sonar systems, and exploration of sea waters and bottom.

Towage of the ship from Kaliningrad to a special diving test range in Temriuk started on June 19, 2012. Seliger will continue service there after commissioning into the Navy.

Research ship Seliger arrived in the Black Sea via inland waters early in Sept 2012 and continued second phase of the sea trials, and then on Nov 17 began passing state acceptance trials.

Sea phase of the state trials successfully finished on Nov 27, and then an onboard revision started. Throughout two weeks shipbuilders and members of state acceptance panel checked general condition of the ship and tested onboard equipment. Crew of Seliger took aboard spare parts, tools, required supplies, and performed other works.

As was told Central Navy Portal by the shipyard press service, the ship's acceptance certificate will be signed in the next few days prior to hoisting of Russian naval ensign.

Research ship Seliger was built under Project 11982 developed by the Almaz Design Bureau. Chief designer of the project is Alexander A. Forst.

The ship's keel-laying ceremony took place at Yantar shipyard on July 8, 2009; Seliger was put afloat in July 2011.

Basic stage of sea trials was passed in Baltiysk since April, then the ship returned to the yard's outfitting quay and began preparations for he transfer via inland waterways.

According to the head of Russian defense ministry's Deep-Sea Research Dept Hero of Russia VADM Alexei Burilichev, the second ship of this class will be built under updated project. Construction of the second ship is planned to start in 2013. The manufacturer will be determined "on a competitive basis", said the Vice Admiral.

According to unverified information, one of potential builders of the second Seliger-class research ship would be JSC Pella Shipyard (St. Petersburg).

General characteristics of Project 11982 Seliger research ship

Displacement – about 1,120 tons;
Length – 59.7 meters;
Beam – 10.8 meters;
Speed – 13 knots;
Operating range – 1,000 miles;
Powerplant – two 950-shp electric motors, five diesel generators;
Crew – 16 men and 9 members of expedition.