The Grachonok will guard the Crimean Bridge. This humble name denotes a fearsome counter-terror boat which has been solemnly launched today. The ceremony was attended by Director of the National Guard Victor Zolotov.
What is special about the Grachonok and when will it go on patrol? Andrey Shtukaturov will tell us.
A bottle of champagne is about to hit the port side of the Grachonok. Moments later, the bottle is in pieces. There are splashes of champagne on the stern. This is a centuries-old tradition for launching new vessels. The counter-terror boat was built at the Vympel Shipyard in Rybinsk especially for the National Guard troops. The solemn ceremony was attended by Director of the National Guard Victor Zolotov.
Victor Zolotov: "This event was foregone by almost three years of intensive cooperation between the experts of our service and the shipbuilders. It will eventually result in the shipyard launching a total of four boats of this series. Let me emphasize that, to fulfill the orders issued by the head of state, this year, we're carrying out the tasks set out for us to ensure the security of the power bridge, the gas-pipe, and the transport passage through the Kerch Strait. Without any doubt, these boats will take their rightful place in the battle array of the newly-formed brigade that bears the responsibility of guarding a facility that is so important for the country".
In comparison to other, more powerful boats which are at the National Guard's disposal now, the Grachonok has a number of undoubted advantages. Its nautical properties allow it to fulfill tasks even in a heavy storm. The vessel is equipped with a hydroacoustic station and a search and exploration system.
Alexander Rechinskiy, Designer in Chief: "It's not as powerful as it is quite well-equipped with state-of-the-art systems. It's well-equipped for fulfilling the tasks that are designated for it, in particular, monitoring an underwater environment, detecting and neutralizing threats, especially underwater threats".
This is the crew of the boat: 16 marines of the National Guard headed by the commander.
- Are you anxious?
- I'm not.
- Why not?
Alexander Podvarkov, Commander: We're confident.
- In the boat or in yourselves?
- Both ourselves and our equipment.
After the consecration of the boat, the commander was given a Saint Nicholas icon. It will always accompany the vessel at sea. By the way, as for the name of the project, the Grachonok, there are various versions of its origin.
Viktor Likholetov, Vympel Shipyard: "One of the versions is it's like a rook bird that guards its nest and, at the blink of an eye, defends its nest from enemies. Similarly, our Grachonok [a young rook in Russian] will protect Russia from both internal and external enemies. The second version is there were over 150 vessels built in the USSR that served as the prototypes of this boat. They flew all over our homeland like rooks".
In August, after passing through the Volga, the Don and the Azov Sea, the Grachonok is to reach the Kerch Strait, it's permanent deployment site. For several months, the boat will undergo trials in the white waters of our southern seas. By the end of the year, the vessel will have gone on patrol.
This is the plant of the Vympel Shipyard where the so-called first Grachonok was built. Now, they're finalizing the second, the third, and the fourth ones. These boats are to be launched as early as next month.
Andrey Shtukaturov and Sergey Soldatov, Vesti: Dispatch Center.
