In the night of June 15 to 16 Pilots of the FSUE “Rosmorport” North-Western Basin Branch and FBI “Volgo-Balt” Administration” carried out unique pilotage of Aurora cruiser to the place of its everlasting anchorage on Petrogradskaya Embankment in Saint Petersburg.

The cruiser accompanied by three tug boats proceeded from the ship repairing plant embankment in Kronstadt, where its capital repair was conducted, first along Kronstadt Ship Fairway, then along Saint Petersburg Sea Canal of the seaport Big Port Saint Petersburg, and then along the Neva river to the place of everlasting anchorage. To ensure the vessel’s safe passage, the Blagoveshchensky, Dvortsovy and Troitsky bridges were risen.

The pilotage of the cruiser from the ship repairing plant in Kronstadt along sea canals of the Big Port Saint Petersburg to the lower edge of the Blagoveshchensky bridge was carried out by a first-category pilot of the North-Western Basin Branch Sergey Shabal. Further pilotage of the cruiser along the Neva river from the Blagoveshchensky bridge to Petrogradskaya Embankment was carried out by FBI “Volgo-Balt” Administration” led by Head of the Pilot Service Boris Malinovsky.

After the precise pilotage and successful anchorage of vessel at the berth on Petrogradskaya Embankment, fixing rods and bridles chains were brought to the vessel, connecting the vessel with two mooring buoys. Further, a gangway bridge will be installed on the vessel, through which all communication connecting Aurora cruiser with the bridge will be conducted.

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For reference:

Aurora cruiser is a 1^st rank cruiser of “Diana” type of the Baltic Fleet. It was launched on May 11 (24), 1990. Commissioning was held on June 16, 1903.
The vessel was named after Aurora sailing frigate, made its name in Petropavlosk-Kamchatsky defense during the Crimean War.

During the Russo-Japanese War, the vessel participated in the Second Pacific Squadron campaign which ended with the Tsushima battle. The cruiser also participated in the First World War. The Cruiser is one of the October Revolution symbols.
A blank shot from Aurora cruiser was a signal to the historical storming of the Winter Palace.
Currently, it is an object of cultural heritage of the Russian Federation.

Photo from “Metro” newspaper.