There is no other ship on the planet like the Amber oceanographic ship. And it is not only the uniqueness of the research complex installed on board and capable of recording numerous parameters of the ocean environment. First of all, the crew itself is unique, consisting of scientists, but in uniform.
"Amber" from the "Diamond"
The history of the research ship "Amber" began in February 2009. It was then that a contract was concluded under which the Baltic shipyard was to build a ship on the order of the State Department of Deep-Water Research of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. Amber, the lead ship of Project 22010 Kruys, was developed by the Central Marine Design Bureau Almaz (St. Petersburg) under the leadership of Chief Designer Alexander Forst.
The construction of the ship began on July 8, 2010. On this day, the staff of the enterprise solemnly celebrated the 65th anniversary of the founding of the plant. In commemoration of this date, it was decided to call the ship "Amber". Milestones of the ship's construction :
- 05/31/2012, the ship's hull left the boathouse of the assembly shop and placed on an open slipway.
- 12/05/2012, the vessel was launched.
- 07/19/2014 Start of mooring tests.
In May 2015, the Yantar vessel, after a control entry to the sea and approval by the state commission of the complete readiness of all ship systems, became part of the Russian Navy.
Main characteristics
The crew of the ship "Amber" of the Russian Navy - 60 people. With a length of just over 108 meters and a width of 17.2 m, the ship has a total displacement of 5.23 thousand tons. The maximum speed can reach 15 knots (about 28 km / h). In autonomous navigation for up to two months, the ship is able to cover a distance of 8 thousand miles. The power supply of all systems and units of the vessel is due to four diesel generator sets. The power of each is 1600 kW.
The motor-propulsion group consists of two helical columns and an electric thruster. The former allow the ship to turn around almost on the spot, and the latter to maintain a stationary position when conducting research. Accuracy of location is provided by modern precession navigation equipment.
Equipment and special equipment
The main purpose of the oceanographic vessel "Amber" is to study the deep-sea areas of the oceans, the features of the bottom topography. Alternative use - rescue expeditions, search operations for the search for sunken objects.
To match the tasks and equipment. The ship’s power system and telecommunications equipment are capable of simultaneously operating two deep-sea vehicles of the Rus or Consul type. Bathyscaphes of this class are able to dive to a depth of over 6 km with a load of about 200 kg, carry out a wide range of underwater operations using a specialized manipulator complex with two actuators, and take photos and videos.
The technical arsenal of the research ship "Yantar" is supplemented by several uninhabited remote-controlled devices, sonar equipment for various purposes. A helipad is equipped in the bow of the deck .
By the seas, by the waves
The research ship began its service in August 2015 with tests of deep-sea apparatus. For three months in the Atlantic Ocean, which has the depths necessary for testing, minisubmarines and remote-controlled probes were tested by specialists. Having fully completed the program, the Yantar ship returned to the base of the Northern Fleet.
In subsequent years, the ship's track record has been added to:
- A raid along the Syrian coast of the Mediterranean.
- Detection and inspection of deck aircraft Su-33 and Mig-29 crashed over the Mediterranean Sea, the extraction of fragments of fighters and items of airborne equipment.
- Atlantic hike to the shores of Canada and the United States.
- Participation in search operations to detect the sunken submarine San Juan (Argentina).
In numerous ocean voyages, Yantar has proven itself in carrying out research missions in various climatic regions.
Scout of the depths or deep scout?
Hydrographic ship "Yantar", exploring the expanses of the oceans, simultaneously performs various reconnaissance functions. The range of tasks is not limited to the collection of scientific and military information. The ship’s equipment is capable of creating a "noise screen" for the scanning sonar equipment of a potential enemy, thereby providing a hidden passage or maneuver of nuclear submarines.
It is not surprising that the Yantar ship is always under the close supervision of not only foreign naval departments, but also the media. So, at the suggestion of the American special services, the quite respectable publication The New York Times during the Atlantic cruise "Yantar" frightened the inhabitants with myths that the Russian ship is capable of leaving US state institutions and ordinary citizens without telecommunications facilities. Such a statement is all the more strange since, in world practice, the reconnaissance activity of ships of this class is a commonplace.
Russian experts claim that all the talk that the Yantar vessel cuts underwater Internet cables and communication lines is completely groundless, and even less proof. At the same time, experts do not deny that the equipment and deep-sea equipment of the ship allow not only to destroy, but also connect to secret telecommunication channels. In fairness, it is worth noting that a senior Pentagon official, commenting on the activity of research ships of the US Navy in the Sea of Okhotsk, joked that they, too, "do not study whales."
Next in line is Diamond
In June 2016, at the Kaliningrad shipyards, the following vessel was laid to help Yantar, which received its name in honor of the TsMKB - Almaz. The developers, relying on the experience of operating the lead vessel, significantly improved the ergonomics of the equipment and the living conditions of the crew.
By the way, the length of the second ship is 118 meters, but there is no helipad. I wonder what kind of "surprises" are preparing "Diamond"?