Russian Mistral Ship Sailors to Leave France Before End of 2014:Shipbuilder

© REUTERS / Stephane MaheRussian sailors stand in formation in front of the Mistral-class helicopter carrier Vladivostok at the STX Les Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard site in Saint-Nazaire
Russian sailors stand in formation in front of the Mistral-class helicopter carrier Vladivostok at the STX Les Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard site in Saint-Nazaire - Sputnik International
Subscribe
The French shipbuilding company did not name a specific date for the Russian crew's departure neither did it confirm whether the sailors would return to France for more training.

The Vladivostok Mistral-class helicopter carrier docks at Saint-Nazaire harbor, western France, Friday, Nov.14, 2014. - Sputnik International
Future Mistral Crew to Stay in France Until Warship Handed Over to Russia
MOSCOW, December 17 (Sputnik) — Some 400 Russian sailors stationed at Saint-Nazaire, France where they were training to man a French-built Mistral-class helicopter carrier will leave the port city before the end of 2014, French shipbuilding company DCNS told AFP Wednesday.

"I can confirm that the Russian sailors will return (to Russia) before the end of year," a DCNS spokesperson said.

The shipbuilder did not name a specific date for the Russian crew's departure neither did confirm whether the sailors would return to France for more training. However on Tuesday the French Ouest-France newspaper said that the sailors would leave France before December 25.

Russian President Vladimir Putin at his meeting with French President Francois Hollande at Moscow's Vnukovo-2 Airport, December 6, 2014 - Sputnik International
Mistral Deal Still Afloat? Russia Expects France to Honor Contract
On December 3, a high-ranking source in the Russian arms exporter Rosoboronexport told RIA Novosti that the sailors would remain in Saint-Nazaire until the vessel was handed over to the Russian Navy.

The Russian sailors have been undergoing training since June on the Vladivostok, the first of two Mistral-class ships, which France has to deliver to Russia under a $1.6 billion deal signed in 2011.

Mistral class amphibious assault ship - Sputnik International
Mistral-Class Amphibious Assault Ships: Facts and Details
The handover of the Vladivostok was scheduled for November 14, but did not take place. On November 25, French President Francois Hollande postponed the delivery of the vessel to Russia, citing the situation in Ukraine as the reason for the decision.

On December 6, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Moscow expected the Mistral contract to be implemented. "However, if not, then we will have no major complaints, but of course we hope that the money that we paid under this contract will be returned to us," Putin said.

Earlier on Wednesday, a high-ranking source told RIA Novosti that the construction of infrastructure for the Mistral-class vessels in the Russian Far East is still underway.

© SputnikMistral Amphibious Assault Helicopter Carrier
Mistral Amphibious Assault Helicopter Carrier  - Sputnik International
Mistral Amphibious Assault Helicopter Carrier
Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала