Posted on 11/09/2018 8:44:28 AM PST by Krosan
Following the sinking of one of the world’s largest dry docks on October 29 in a shipyard in the far northwest part of Russia, officials have finally admitted that they are unable to continue work on Russia’s sole aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov, for the time being. While Russia’s shipbuilding industry is reportedly looking into alternatives, no timely and viable solution to continue retrofitting work on the Russian Navy’s flagship has emerged to date.
“We have alternatives actually for all the ships except for [the aircraft carrier] Admiral Kuznetsov. Our enterprises are in operation, [including] the Nerpa [Ship Repair Factory],” the head of Russia’s United Ship-Building Corporation (USC), Alexei Rakhmanov, is quoted as saying on November 7 by TASS news agency. “After all, we can perform certain docking works in Severodvinsk, not far from Murmansk. We don’t feel any special problems in this regard.”
However, the Russian shipbuilding industry does not possess a large enough facility to accommodate the carrier and it will take at least six to 12 months to recover the sunken floating dry dock. According to open source information, Russia would require international support for any such complex recovery operation as it does not possess the equipment to lift the massive drydock from the seabed on its own.
While work in the ship’s interior can continue, absent a large floating dry dock, it is unlikely that Russia will be able to keep up with the current overhaul schedule, as all work on the ship’s bilge had to cease. Initially, the the carrier was to return to active duty within the next two years. Shorty after the incident, there were reports that Severodvinsk shipyard possesses another floating dock, PD-1, that could be used to continue work on the carrier. However, following an evaluation, it was determined that the facility would not be able to accommodate a warship the size of the Admiral Kuznetsov.
The Swedish-made PD-50 drydock reportedly sank when the Admiral Kuznetsov was being pulled out after the failure of a pump system on the night of October 29. As a result of the sinking, a crane fell on the carrier’s deck leaving a hole above the waterline that measures 4 by 5 meters. The accident also injured four workers. The Russian government has set up a commission to investigate the sinking. After the conclusion of the investigation, the commission is set to offer its recommendation whether to recover the PD-50 or look for alternative ways to complete work on the carrier.
The Admiral Kuznetsov was commissioned in 1990 and last underwent a two-year refit between 1996 and 1998. The Russian Navy’s 55,000-ton flagship has never been deployed for longer than six months and famously had to be followed by an oceangoing tug boat during all of its sea voyages due to the carrier’s poor reliability and questionable performance during a recent deployment to Syria in 2016.
Wait. They were “Getting ready for War!” Just two days ago.
According the anti carrier crowd, this is the best thing that could happen to the Red Navy. Heck, I think some of our armchair admirals would just as soon scuttle or CVN force the way they talk so negatively about them.
“Wait. They were “Getting ready for War!” Just two days ago.”
Looks as though they were “just kidding!” Maybe they should sell this piece of Shit to the Chinese, so the will have a pair. The Lioning (sp) is the Admiral Kuznetsov’s “twin” piece of crap!
I’m thinking you’re on the right track.
Ivan has had a raft of problems with that single carrier they have. They should rename it the Jinx-ski.
patch the hull and repair/retrofit it in china, or here. its not likely much of a threat.
Perhaps they could fill it with helium.
A nice shopping mall, it would make.
Imagine the luxury of being a sailor on that floating smoke machine.
Don’t know how much stock to put into this, but they could just as easily go to a drydock in a friendly country and get it done.
It would be more expensive, but you could get it done.
Anyway, that sort of sucks for the Russians. I believe they are adversaries. What do you call a bunch of countries that spied on a sitting US President and tried to game an election?
I don’t call them allies.
National interest beats all.
It has only 8 working toilets. Sailors have to shit and piss in buckets.
Sailors pee over the side.
I don’t think Russia has any friendly countries that have a drydock of adequate size. Their friends are “sh*thole” countries like Nicaragua, Venezuela and Cuba.
“The Swedish-made PD-50 drydock reportedly sank”
A Volvo?
Words rarely seen in the same sentence: “Russian world class quality assurance”
Am I the only one that thinks a submersible dry dock sounds cool.
Am I the only one that thinks a submersible dry dock sounds cool.
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