"The Sevastopol will begin trials as planned in March, with wharf employees on board. But if a decision is made on the Vladivostok (the first Mistral-class ship, which Russia hasn't yet received), and the crew from Russia comes to Saint-Nazaire, we will have to make a second sea trial, which will bring the wharf additional costs," the representative told the agency.
The delivery of two Mistral-class assault ships to Russia was agreed under a $1.5 billion deal between Russian state-run arms exporter Rosoboronexport and French shipbuilder DCNS, signed in 2011.
In January, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said the Russian side did not rule out the possibility of filing a suit against France within six months over its failure to deliver the Vladivostok ship, as the contract conditions remain unfulfilled.