Ildar Khalikov and Yunus-bek Evkurov take part in keel laying ceremony of small-size missile ship

On August 29, Head of Republic of Ingushetia Yunus-bek Evkurov, Tatarstan Prime Minister Ildar Khalikov, Commander in Chief of the Russian Navy Viktor Chirkov, Commander in Chief of the Russian Black Sea Fleet Alexander Vitko, Commander of the Caspian Flotilia Ildar Akhmetov, Head of Zelenodolsk region Alexander Tygin, Director General of Ak Bars Holding Company Ivan Egorov and other officials took part in an solemn keel laying ceremony of the eights small-size missile ship of project 21631 at Zelenodolsk Gorky Shipyard.

Opening the ceremony, on behalf of the plant employees Director General of Zelenodolsk Gorky Shipyard Renat Mistakhov thanked the leadership of Russia and Tatarstan for the trust and support given to the enterprise, offering it an opportunity to develop and modernize its production facilities. Mistakhov assured that the new order will be delivered as scheduled.

Commander in Chief of the Russian Navy congratulated the plant workers on the start of construction of a new ship, saying that the eighth small-size missile ship of project 21631 will perform tasks within the Black Sea Fleet. Viktor Chirkov handed in awards of the Russian Navy to some of the plant workers.

The ships of 21631 project designed by Zelenodolsk Design Bureau have been built by the Gorky Shipyard for the Russian navy since 2010. They are multipurpose ‘river-sea’ type ships equipped with state-of-the-art artillery, missile, anti-sabotage, air defence and radioelectronic weapons and designed to protect the national economic zone.

The lead ship of the project, Grad Sviyazhsk, and the first serial ship Uglich successfully passed the state trials in 2013 are part of the Caspian Fleet. The third ship of the project, Veliky Ustyug is undergoing trials at the Caspian Sea. Another four sister ships are under construction at the Gorky Plant.

By the order of Commander in Chief of the Russian Navy the eight ship of project 21631 was named Ingushetia, which was one of the reasons Yunus-bek Evkurov being present at the today’s ceremony. The laying of the ship is a historical moment for the Republic of Ingushetia, he said at the ceremony.

“The ship that will perform tasks in the interest of safety of our great country will be called Ingushetia. It is a great honour for us,” Evkurov said, thanking commanders of the Russian Navy for making the decision imposing certain obligations on the republic, as the region will have to curate the ship’s construction.

Then Head of Republic of Ingushetia handed in Certificates of honour to some of Zelenodolsk plant employees.

The today’s event is special, Ildar Khalikov said. “The ship bearing the name of our friends and partners has been laid today” Ildar Khalikov noted.

He also handed in awards of the Republic of Tatarstan to the most distinguished workers of the plant.