Navy chief: Submarine construction at Skaramangas on target; first test in Sept.

22:39 13/6/2014 - Πηγή: E-Typos

The first of four submarines contracted between the Hellenic Navy and the Skaramangas Shipyard workers will be tested in real conditions as early as September, Navy General Staff chief Evangelos Apostolakis said in a press briefing on Friday.

Speaking a day after an inspection tour on Thursday

to check the project - which includes the upgrade also of an existing submarine - Vice Admiral Apostolakis said that all work would be completed within two years.

The first submarine to be prepared for a trial run is "Pipinos", to be followed by "Matrozos" by the end of the year, and the "Okeanos", which has some electrical connection problems due to its upgrading. The "Katsonis" still needs major construction.

Refuting reports about failures and higher construction cost, Apostolakis said that reactivating the Skaramangas services ran to 30 million euros, based on offers, with the Navy providing half a million euros and using nearly all of the shipyard premises. The 75 million euros allocated to the programme will be enough, he added, and keeping within budget was helped by the fact that by now specialised Greek know-how has become available.

According to the Navy official, there are 835 people staffing the project. Wages were reduced by as much as 35% from 2012 rates, but there was no monthly wage under 850 euros, including insurance. The wages cost the Navy 1.5 million euros per month.

The National Defence ministry political leadership and the Navy were looking to find legal means to hire an additional 100 to 120 staff for transport material needs. According to the agreement, the Hellenic Navy will contract with Skaramangas workers to complete the submarine work, and any relation between the two parties will be dissolved ipso jure at the end of the project.

Meanwhile, the Greek state has filed a suit against companies involved in the original submarine contracts, asking for damages of 7 billion euros for nondelivery. The Greek state paid 3.2 billion euros for the construction of four new submarines and the upgrading of one but received only a newly-constructed one, and that only 14 years after the agreement was signed.