01.04.2010
Black Sea Fleet ships – large ASW ship Ochakov and diesel submarine B-380 Svyatoi Kniaz Georgy are being prepared for decommission; same perspective is planned for large ASW ship Kerch, hospital ship Yenisei, ocean-going transport Turgai, cable ship Setun and ocean-going arms transport General Riabikov, reports Interfax citing a source in Black Sea Fleet HQ.
The first and second ships are old and obsolete; endless overhauls and maintaining afloat are too expensive for the fleet. In 2010 financing of BSF ship-repair industry is reduced by one third so the fleet yards are almost idle. Since Feb 2010 the staff of 13th and 91st ship-repair yards has been reduced almost twice, specified the source.
After decommission of
Ochakov and
Kerch, Black Sea Fleet will have only one 1st rank ship – missile cruiser
Moskva, BSF flagship. In this connection, reports in media that after
Vostok-2010 exercise
Moskva would allegedly be transferred to Pacific Fleet sound like 'a nonsense', pointed out the source.
Commission of new ships into Black Sea Fleet is not planned in 2010, added he.
Source: RusNavy.com, photo: cruiser Moskva (flot.sevastopol.info)
