Defense Ministry Comments Import of British Furniture

02.12.2011 Central Navy Portal reported on Nov 29 that Russian defense ministry had chosen British company Strongbox Marine Furniture LTD as a supplier of metal furniture for Russian Navy's ships. When this information was widely covered by Russian media agencies, the editorial staff managed to draw a comment from defense ministry.

A top-ranking source in Russian defense ministry told to Central Navy Portal that the tender for furniture and technical equipment for Russian Navy's prospective ships was held by Almaz Central Design Bureau (St. Petersburg) with the view to sel ect interior design for Project 20385 corvettes.

Having no name yet, the lead corvette of the project is being currently built by JSC Severnaya Verf shipyard. The experiment took place on board corvette Stereguschiy, a ship of the similar class. Finally, JSC Marine Integrated Systems won the tender absolutely fair because it offered complex solution meeting Navy's demands for appearance and functionality of shipborne premises of Russian prospective ships.

The document signed by defense minister Anatoly Serdiukov tasked the Navy command to elaborate complex approach to selection of up-to-date furniture, mess and plumbing equipment and was not an order to appoint JSC Marine Integrated Systems as a "tender winner".

Having compared features of furniture made by several Russian manufacturers, Russian Navy decided in favor of production offered by Marine Integrated Systems. Its key advantage is conformance to NATO standards, i.e. nontoxicity, reduced flammability, and modern appearance. In the end, the source said that Marine Integrated Systems signed an agreement with British Strongbox Marine Furniture LTD providing localization of manufacturing of furniture and equipment in Russian territory.

Almaz design bureau confirmed that information, but refused to give detailed comments.

So far, Central Navy Portal has not managed to get any comments fr om JSC Marine Integrated Systems regarding localization of the furniture production.