Russia to Lay Down 3rd Aleksandrit-Class Coastal Minesweeper in Early 2017

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Project 12700 vessels are designed to detect and destroy mines at safe distances on naval base territory. The first ship was laid down in 2011 and launched in 2014, with a total of four vessels set to be built. The minesweepers have a full displacement of 890 tonnes and are 61 meters (200 feet) in length and 10 meters wide.

"After laying several layers of reinforcing fabric into the matrix and carrying out preparatory works, the process of vacuum infusion will start, whereby a binding substance will be fed via a system of pipes under pressure into a "package" in a vacuum. The ceremony of laying the third serial minesweeper ship is planned for spring 2017," the Sredne-Nevsky Shipyard press service said in a statement.

The vacuum infusion technique allows for the construction of large-scale structures using polymer composite materials.  The hull of the vessel is a monolithic fiberglass structure, which is stronger than steel frame hulls, as well as more durable.

In 2014, the Russian Defense Ministry said that the country’s Navy would receive new minesweepers by 2019 under Project 12700.