Dave Wooley wrote:
Hi Steve. I wonder what the visitor numbers are like these days. I noted that the old Kiev was also a park attraction. Interesting when you mentioned about the condition of the vessel. Maintaining these sort of "artifacts” in some form of safe condition is a costly never ending affair but one the size of Minsk! I wonder if it's a private company funding and operating Minsk World or does the local government have some financial impute? If like Kiev the park becomes a financial liability the ship will no doubt go to razor blades. Contrast that with the US. Even though the City Fathers of Philadelphia are reluctant to fund the Olympia there is a clause that ex-USN ships will revert back to the Navy in such an event. Not so in the UK hence the concerns for HMS Plymouth which I know only to well. Thanks for making the pictures available, wish I could have been there { needed to get my camera in to some nooks and crannies not normally seen on the visitor trail?} If I had known you where going , well that's another story! . Although the Kiev and Minsk are the same class, like any ships of the same class there are many differences but many similarities. The only regret is not having the "builders" drawings, they must be somewhere? And I guess they are aboard the vessel as a set of builders drawings had to be kept aboard Plymouth when she was an Historic attraction.
Dave Wooley
Hi Dave
According to Wikipedia, the Minsk was sold in 1995 to a South Korean businessman, and later resold to Shenzhen Minsk Aircraft Carrier Industry Co. Ltd., a Chinese company. Until 2006, when the company went bankrupt, Minsk was the centerpiece of a military theme park in Shatoujiao (沙头角) district, Shenzhen called Minsk World. The aircraft carrier was put up for auction on 22 March 2006. No bids at the starting price of 128 million RMB were received, so the carrier was withdrawn from sale.
On 31 May 2006, the Soviet aircraft carrier was finally auctioned off in Shenzhen for 128 million RMB to CITIC Shenzhen, the current operator (a wholly owned subsidiary directly under CITIC. With a total asset of RMB 6 billion and 19 subsidiaries, consecutively titled as "a big unit of foreign exchange in Shenzhen"). It is currently named CITIC Minsk World.
My impression is that they have spent as little as possible in the way of keeping her in anything like reasonable condition. As I say, the aircraft are a total joke and an accident just waiting to happen!! The weather has obviously been an influence, many exhibits were damaged where woodwork had warped and paint peeled etc.
As for visitor numbers, as you will see from the pictures there were very few! Having said that, in the area in was a pretty rotten day, and just 2 days into the first week after everyone has gone back to work after the end of Chinese New Year. Not enough to keep it running as a going concern anyhow!
As you will see from the pictures (and LOTS of them) I have tried to capture the areas that may not always be clearly viewed, and from different angles. Apologies for not letting you know, I should have twigged, but I went at short notice due to the good weather, after a request from Mick. Having had a right job looking for pictures for my Udaloy I tried to imagine what I would need and tried to cover what I thought would be required. I am sure I will go back again sometime, so if theres anything else you need I could get it then!
There is certainly no drawings onboard her. Infact basically the whole ship is nothing much more than a gutted shell with a visitors area around far too many souvineer shops and photo shoot (in Russian naval dress) areas. Peer in through any window away from the visitor route and all you see is ripped out spaces. Sad ending for a vessel that has gone up immeasureably in my estimation after todays visit. I could almost feel her pain too.
Afraid the pictures are still uploading, up to 54% now, there is rather a lot!
Cheers
Steve