New salvage ship for Caspian Flotilla

Russian Navy’s Caspian Flotilla took delivery of the Project 22870 rescue and salvage ship SB-738 in mid-August. Built at the Astrakhan-based branch of the Zvezdochka shipyard, the ship completed official tests in July.

The tests involved inspections of the ship’s rescue equipment, and also diving trials to different depths. The SB-738’s seaworthiness, steering response, stability, propulsion performance, and inertia were also tested.

The official tests included a series of drills, in which the crew was to extinguish ship and coastal fires, evacuate people, and provide first aid to casualties.

In August 2014, the Caspian Flotilla received the lead ship of Project 22870, the SB-45. Another of the type, the Professor Nikolay Muru, joined the Black Sea Fleet in June 2015.

The SB-738 measures 57 m in length and 14 m in width, has a displacement of 1,200 t and a maximum speed of 14 kt. She can simultaneously evacuate over 60 people. 

The Project 22870 ships are intended, among other things, as sources of power supply for stricken vessels and also for oil spill cleanup operations.