Russian-built INS Teg starts sea trials in the Baltic

(Rusnavy) : Project 11356 frigate INS Teg (stands for "saber") which is the first ship of the second trio built for Indian Navy by Russian Yantar shipyard sailed off on Sept 1 to start sea trials in the Baltic Sea, said the yard's press secretary Sergei Mikhailov.

"After completion of mooring trials, frigate INS Teg will head for the Baltic Fleet via Kaliningrad seaway canal in order to pass sea trials right up to December", he said.

The Yantar's spokesman pointed out that "the state commission had recently accepted main propulsion plant and affirmed that all systems and mechanisms operate normally". "Now they will be tested in various conditions at sea", added Mikhailov.

The frigate's crew numbers 95 officers and enlisted servicemen of Baltic Fleet; trial team of the shipyard's specialists is also on board.

All three Project 11356 frigates of the second parcel will be delivered to Indian Navy with delay, reports ARMS-TASS. According to the $1.5 bln Russo-Indian contract signed in 2006 for three Project 11356 Talwar class frigates, the ships were supposed to be delivered in Apr 2011, Oct 2011, and Apr 2012. However, Russian state-led company Rosoboronexport informed Indian party in Aug 2011 that the deliveries would be delayed. The first and second ships will be delivered with 12-month delays, and the third one – with a 14-month delay.

In particular, INS Teg laid down at Yantar shipyard in mid-2007 is planned to join Indian Navy early in 2012. Other two frigates – INS Tarkash (stands for "quiver") and INS Trikand ("bow") – are under completion. Delivery date of INS Tarkash is also 2012, and INS Trikand – 2013.

JSC Yantar Shipyard was founded on July 8, 1945. The yard is specialized in construction of small- and middle-tonnage commercial and military vessels, as well as ship-repair works. It has built 154 warships and over 500 commercial vessels. Currently, major shareholder of JSC Yantar is state-led company JSC United Shipbuilding Corporation.