On Wednesday, 11th of April, there will take a place launching and name giving ceremony of patrol ship "VIESITE"
"P-07 Viesite" is the first Latvian completely built warship and the third of a total of five such patrolships Navy flotilla will receive till 2014. Patrolships length is 25 m and width 13m. It will make 20 knots of the speed and it will be serviced by eight man team. Ship construction scheduled for completion in August 2012, but by the end of the year it will already be taking up the Navy fleet tasks.
The vessel is not only going used for military purposes, but also for human Search& Rescue in the sea.
Latvia is able! The new patrol ship Viesīte is a proof for Latvia ability to build even war ships. The successful take over of German engeneering.
"Latvia can! The new patrol vessel "Viesite" - is a vivid proof of Latvian ability to build warships. The successful takeover of German engineering, employees of JSC “Rīgas kuģu būvētava” completely from the keel, have built the vessel, which will serve the needs of the Latvian Naval Forces! It is important to note that the ship building process involved more than 220 employees! There are aprox. 700 employees of Rīgas kuģu būvetava, but if we take into account the co - organizations, 2000 employees are in total Total Rīgas kuģu būvētava “The shipyard has been announced a breakthrough in economics long time ago already .” – says Chairman of the Board JSC "Rīgas kuģu būvētava" Vasilijs Melniks.
One of the most interesting traditions of the Navy is that each ship has its own godmother, who is elected once, regardless of the size of the ship's fate. For patrol craft P - 07 "Viesite" godmother has been chosen Daina Vitola, - local office manager and Registry Office and the County Registry office Head. Choice is due to the fact that D. Vītola is a local resident, was born and raised in Viesīte, her working life to relate to our city, county community is recognizable as the same are a public asset - both participating and involved in various district events. As the ship's name given in Viesites in 1919th the Latvian liberation battles, the choice of ship godmother also takes into account the fact that the Daina’s grandfather A. Abiļevičs, who also had a home - Viesites district - resident of the heroism of the 1919th the Latvian liberation battles was awarded the Lāčplēša Order.
Construction of patrol vessels is in line with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and RKB Coast Guard patrol boats construction and supply contracts, which was concluded on 21st of December 2007. The agreement shall provide that all five ships scheduled to AM 2014. year.
Patrolships are names given - Skrunda, Cesis, Viesite, Jelgava and Rezekne, the most important fight of Freedom venues in Latvian historical regions.
Ceremony will start at. 14.30 Ceremony is going to be attended by President Andris Berzins, the Minister of Defense, Artis Pabriks, the National Armed Forces Commande Raymond Graube, Navy fleet commander Navy Captain Rimants Štrimaitis, RKB Chairman Vasily Melnik, and other officials.