Old Black Sea Fleet ships can serve five years more

18.10.2010 Russia's Black Sea Fleet (BSF) Command offers to prolong service life of some warships on 5 years instead of the scheduled decommission, reported a source in Navy Main HQ.

"ASW exercise recently held by Black Sea Fleet has shown that some warships already condemned to decommission are still quite good at sea", pointed out the interviewee.

According to him, this fact hardened BSF command to the view that some overaged vessels could stay in service after appropriate repairs right up to receiving new ships in 2015.

"In particular, experts say Project 1134B large ASW ship Kerch which was launched 38 years ago is still capable to accomplish combat tasks in the waters of the Black Sea", added the interviewee. "This ship is not allowed to enter the Mediterranean just because she is not equipped with up-to-date water purification system", said the source.

Alongside with that, the representative of Navy Main HQ added that by 2015 Black Sea Fleet would be in need of not only several new ships but the radical renovation, reports ForUm.

Russian Black Sea Fleet based in Sevastopol has in inventory less than 40 vessels, including missile cruiser Moskva, two submarines (only B-871 Alrosa is in service), two large ASW ships, three frigates, and numerous small-size missile, landing, reconnaissance ships, minesweepers, and rescue vessels. Most of them have been in service for over 30-40 years now. Salvage ship Kommuna which is to turn 100 in 2013 is still operable.

In accordance with agreement tied between Moscow and Kiev, BSF can deploy 388 ships (including 14 diesel electric submarines) in Ukrainian territorial waters.