Mistral of discord: Russian sailors test-sail warship that Paris may withhold
Published time: September 13, 2014 11:37 Get short URL



A 400-strong Russian crew is manning a French-built Mistral-class warship as it conducts sea trials. It comes after Paris announced the possible cancellation of the contract due to the conflict in Ukraine.

The Vladivostok left the harbor of Saint-Nazaire in western France on Saturday for the ship’s fifth training and trial trip. The warship is manned by some 400 Russian officers and sailors, who had arrived in France to learn how to helm this kind of vessel.

The number of crew far exceeds the 170 necessary for Mistral-class ships, but the Russians are preparing to have at least two ships eventually and are therefore preparing more sailors to man them.

The trial was meant to start Wednesday, but was postponed by several days for technical reasons. The Vladivostok is scheduled to have a total of six trials, before it is handed over by the French shipbuilders to Russia later in November.

The deal is far from being assured, however, after French President Francois Hollande announced a suspension of this part of the contract following a NATO summit in Wales. He said he would decide on whether to respect French obligations or breach the contract with Russia in October.

Russia signed a $1.6 billion contract to build two Mistral-class warships in 2011. The second one is scheduled to be completed next year.

Other Western countries have been pressuring Paris for months, saying France has to make sacrifices to meet its commitment to oppose Moscow over the crisis in Ukraine through sanctions.

The sacrifice required may be painful indeed. The prospect already angered dozens of workers at the Saint-Nazaire shipyards, who would risk their jobs if the second Mistral-class ship Russia ordered is scrapped, and they protested Hollande’s announcement. But more important is that France would face a multi-billion dollar penalty if it canceled the deal.

http://rt.com/news/187560-russian-mi...ral-sea-trial/

First Mistral-Class Ship Built for Russia Sets Off for Sea Trials: Reports




MOSCOW, September 13 (RIA Novosti) - The Mistral-class helicopter carrier, the Vladivostok, carrying some 200 Russian sailors on Saturday left the French port of Saint-Nazaire to pass a series of tests.

The Vladivostok had left docks at 3:30 a.m. local time (1:30 GMT), but was forced to wait until the tide thus eventually sailing out to sea at 7:20 a.m. (5:20 GMT) accompanied by two tugboats, Agence France-Presse reported. This is the first time the ship goes to sea since its arrival to Saint-Nazaire in June where two crews of Russian sailors, a total of 400 crew members, have been awaiting sea trials.

The $1.6 billion contract to supply the Mistral-class ships between the French ship-building company DCNS and Russia's state-run arms exporter Rosoboronexport was signed in June of 2011. The first carrier, the Vladivostok is to be operated by the Russian Navy in 2014, while the second ship, the Sevastopol will arrive in 2015. While the United States were against the deal, DCNS insisted that Western sanctions imposed on Russia for its role in Ukraine not prohibit the construction and transfer of Mistral ships.

Last week, France threatened to suspend the supply of the helicopter carriers, linking its decision to the crisis in Ukraine, claiming Moscow's direct involvement. Later, a French government spokesman told RIA Novosti that the delivery of the ship is not officially suspended and that French President Francois Hollande was simply outlining his political stance. Hollande stated he would not approve of the transfer of the vessel in November should the situation in Ukraine not improve. Hollande later stated he would make the decision in late October. The president added that the two conditions for the delivery of the ship is an observed ceasefire in Ukraine, as well as a political settlement agreement. The French President also stressed that the sanctions adopted by the European Union have never prevented the delivery of the helicopter carrier to Russia.


http://en.ria.ru/russia/20140913/192...f-for-Sea.html