Former Russian Carrier to Stay in Chinese Park"Kiev," the former flagship of the Russian Navy's North Fleet, will become part of a tourism site in Tianjin Municipality, north China.The State Economic and Trade Commission recently approved that the disarmed body of the aircraft carrier could be used for tourism purposes. In 2000, a local company spent 70 million yuan to purchase the vessel, with a discharge capacity of 40,500 tons and since last July, the carrier has been anchored at Tianjin Port. "Kiev," 273.1 meters in length, 52.8 meters in width and 21.6 meters in height, was built in 1975 and demobilized from the Russian Navy in 1995. Its telecommunications and firing systems were removed before it was put on sale. According to the developer, the Tianjin North Sea Warship Recreational Port Co., Ltd., "Kiev" will be made a focal point of a warship museum attached to the park, with a number of other old military vessels to be introduced. Other facilities in the park include recreational grounds, restaurants and hotels. |
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