Russian nuclear cruiser docks in the Cape
Date: 12 January 2009
Report and photos by Dean Wingrin
The Russian nuclear powered battlecruiser Pyotr Velikiy (Peter the Great) docked in Table Bay Harbour yesterday afternoon. She is on its way from Venezuela to India, where it is scheduled to carry out exercises with that country's navy.
The ship is the largest surface warship, excluding aircraft carriers, to dock in the Cape. The American nuclear powered aircraft carrier, USS Theodore Roosevelt, visited Cape Town in October last year, but moored in Table Bay and did not enter port. Many aircraft carrier also visited the Cape during and after World War II.
Commander Greyling van der Berg, spokesperson for the SA Navy said that the reason the Peter the Great is in Cape Town is that it is officially a goodwill visit where the ship shows the flag.
"The reason why navies do this is to bring a part of the home country to a foreign port. The ship represent the Russian Federation to the people of South Africa, to those who will not have the opportunity to visit Russia", van den Berg said.
The ship had only been given permission by the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) to enter the harbour that morning. It is a requirement that the NNR approve all port visits by nuclear-powered vessels.
The SA Navy assisted the Russian Federation Navy in obtaining the licence. The original application submitted on 4 December 2008 and the public was given 30 days to provide comment. However, the NNR found that certain legal requirements were still outstanding. These included a certified safety assessment in connection with the docking of the ship, a comprehensive emergency plan in the event of a nuclear accident and the diplomatic note accepting strict liability for any nuclear damage.
Although the outstanding items were subsequently submitted, it is believed that the NNR wanted to renew the 30 day public comment period. This would have meant that any approval and licence issue would be too late for the arrival of the Pyotr Velikiy, due on 12 January 2009. Fortunately for both navies, the NNR decided to adhere to the previously agreed to time line and the licence was issued just in time.
The Pyotr Veliky has arrived in the Cape after participating in joint military exercises with the Venezuelan Navy in December. The task force, from the Russian Northern Fleet, was accompanied by the destroyer Admiral Chabanenko, the supply ship Ivan Bubnov and the salvage tug Nilokay Chirikin. The latter vessels, however, are not included in the port visit.
According to naval officials, it is possible that the SAN will conduct a Passex when the Pyotr Veliki leaves Cape Town on Wednesday afternoon, as this is common when most foreign naval vessels leave port after a visit.
After departure, the task force will join a task force from Russia's Pacific Fleet to take part in INDRA-2009, a joint naval exercise with the Indian navy in the Indian Ocean.
According to the Naval Technology website, the Pyotr Velikiy is a Krov Class Heavy Missile Cruise Ship built by the Baltic Shipyard in Saint Petersburg. The Kirov Class provides the capability to engage large surface ships and to defend the fleet against air and submarine attack. Four cruisers were built but only Admiral Nakhimov (commissioned in 1988) and Pyotr Velikhiy (commissioned in 1995) remain active.
The ship's propulsion system is based on a combination of nuclear power and steam turbine, with four nuclear reactors and two auxiliary boilers.
As can be expected, the Kirov Class is heavily armed. Missiles include 20 Granit (Nato designation SS-N-19 Shipwreck) long-range anti-ship missile systems, installed under the upper deck, and the An S-300F Air Defence Missile Complex, with twelve launchers and 96 vertical launch air defence missiles. The ship is also equipped with the Osa-MA Air Defence Missile System (two double launchers and 40 missiles).
The ship is equipped with a Kashstan air-defence missile/gun system to provide defence against a range of precision weapons including anti-ship and anti-radar missiles and air bombs, aircraft, and small naval ships.
Guns include a 130mm AK-130 multipurpose twin-barrel gun and a 30mm AK-630 artillery system.
For Anti-Submarine Warfare, the ship has ten torpedo tubes for 20 Vodopad-NK anti-submarine missiles or torpedoes. The ship has two anti-submarine and anti-torpedo rocket systems, the Udav-1 with 40 anti-submarine rockets and the RBU-1000. There are also two RBU-1000 six-tube launchers, with 102 rockets.
The ship accommodates three Kamov Ka-27PL or Ka-25RT helicopters. The Kamov-27 (Nato codename Helix) is equipped for anti-submarine warfare.
