Putin attends laying-down ceremony for nuclear submarine
SEVERODVINSK, Russia. July 30 (Interfax) - President Vladimir Putin attended the laying-down ceremony for nuclear-powered submarine Knyaz Vladimir (Prince Vladimir)on Monday.
It was symbolic, he said, that the future submarine has been named after a medieval ruler reputed as a great unifier and defender of Russian lands.
"By 2020, we should have eight such subs, Borei class subs: one of them, Alexander Nevsky, has passed its trials, and one more is undergoing trials," the president said before the ceremony, held at the Sevmash shipyard.
"I'm sure that the entire project will materialize. The new nuclear submarine Knyaz Vladimir will be one of the symbols of the Russian Armed Forces," he said.
Putin credited the Sevmash shipyard with having done "very much for strengthening the defense capability of Russia."
"Altogether you have assembled 129 submarines. This is a unique record. I don't know whether there is another enterprise in the world that has done as much as that for its country," he said. "You have proved with your work that you are able to accomplish the most ambitious tasks. I am sure that you will cope with this one as well."
A military brass band was playing marches during the ceremony. Putin fixed a plate stating the submarine's name and chief characteristics to one of the sections of the future vessel and Sevmash workers immediately welded it on.
