BF landing ship Kaliningrad attends Kiel Week festival

22.06.2010 Baltic Fleet (BF) large landing ship Kaliningrad arrived to Germany to attend the Kiel Week which is European naval festival, reported RIA Novosti referring to BF spokesman.

"BF ship Kaliningrad entered naval base Kiel having successfully completed tasks of the international exercise BALTOPS 2010. The ship will attend known European festivity – the Kiel Week which implies demonstration of naval flags of the world sea powers. It has become a sort of tradition for BALTOPS participants to call at Kiel", said the BF representative.

According to him, Baltic mariners are about to take part in sport events and host visitors during the Open Day at Kaliningrad.

"Besides, delegations of warships participating the Kiel Week festival will lay wreaths to the memorial of lost sailors", pointed out the interviewee.

The BF official reminded that first Russian warship (frigate Neustrashimy) took part in the Kiel Week in 1994. The Kiel Week is conducted annually since 1882. That is a highest sailing sport event and a great summer holiday celebrated in northern Germany; the Kiel Week is one of the most large and significant Europe's festivals hosting not only civil vessels, sailers, and yachts but warships, too (participants of annual naval maneuvers BALTOPS).

Central event of the Kiel Week is regatta which comprises about 4,500 yachtsmen on 2,000 sailers from over 50 countries.

One of the high points of the festival is traditional Tall Ships Parade. Over 100 large sailers, common vessels, and yachts sail off the port. Normally, the parade is held on closing Sunday of the Kiel Week.