Russia’s 9th Aleksandrit-class minesweeper launched in St. Petersburg

ST. PETERSBURG, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) — A new minesweeper of Project 12700 Aleksandrit-class was launched in Russia’s St. Petersburg on Friday, the press service of the city administration reported.
The ceremony took place at the Sredne-Nevsky Shipyard where the ship, the ninth minesweeper of Project 12700 Aleksandrit-class, was built.
Aleksandr Moiseev, the commander-in-chief of the Russian Navy, noted at the ceremony that the ship was expected to join the Northern Fleet this year.
The new vessel was named after Afanasy Ivannikov. With 890-ton-displacement, 62-meter-length, 10-meter-width and 44-member-crew, the warships of this project are designed to detect and destroy mines in waters.
Alexandrit-class minesweepers are distinguished by their monolithic fiberglass hulls molded by vacuum infusion, a modern construction technology that results in a lighter and more durable hull. ■