On 8 November 2019, Kaliningrad-based Baltic Shipbuilding Plant “Yantar” (Yantar Shipyard, United Shipbuilding Corporation) launched lead ship of Project 23700 named Voyevoda. According to the company’s press center, the ceremony was attended by the shipyard personnel, representatives of USC and the customers, Ministry of Industry and Trade and Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation.
When speaking at the ceremony, Eduard Yefimov, General Director of Yantar, said: “It is a remarkable day for Yantar, an event we have been steadily approaching for a year and a half. That was a period of hard work on the unique project for the entire shipyard. First of all, I would like to thank the Yantar shipbuilders who created this beautiful ship. We grateful to the customer, the designer and all those involved in implementation of this project, in preparation of the ship to launching. I am sure, the fitting out and testing of the Voyevoda will be held at the same high level with compliance to all requirements of the customer. And the next year will see the delivery of the ship”.
The Voyevoda is a lead rescue support ship of Project 23700 designed by Severnoye Design Bureau. The shipbuilding contract was signed in December 2016 with the keel-laying held in April 2017. The ship will be operated by the Federal Marine and River Transport Agency (Rosmorrechflot). The delivery is scheduled for 2020.
The ship of project 23700 is intended for support of rescue operations, transportation and supply of small-size search and rescue floating crafts. The ship can carry 4 boats and 2 helicopters. Displacement – 7,500 t, length – 111 m, width – 24 m, speed – 22 knots, cruising range – 5,000 miles.
Kaliningrad-based Baltic Shipbuilding Plant “Yantar” (Yantar Shipyard) was founded on July 8, 1945 on the basis of a Koenigsberg unit of German’s Schichau Werft. Yantar Shipyard specializes in building and repair of warships and civil boats. Throughout the years the Shipyard has built 160 warships and more than 500 merchant vessels. The Russian Government holds majority stake in the shipbuilding firm through Western Center of Shipbuilding, a subsidiary of state-owned United Shipbuilding Corporation.
United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC OJSC) is the largest shipbuilding company in Russia. It was set up in 2007 with 100% federal ownership. The holding comprises 40 companies and organizations (major shipbuilding and shiprepairing companies as well as leading design bureaus). Currently, USC consolidates the bulk of the domestic shipbuilding complex. The Russian market is the main focus of the state corporation though it also exports its products to 20 countries worldwide.