Russian nuclear ship will arrive in Venezuela against a background of failures

In 2004, Russian officers were certain that "Peter the Great" would blow out

Glitches and accidents have marked the lifespan of heavy missile cruiser Peter the Great, one of the ships that forms part of the Russian Army's Northern Fleet that will visit Venezuela soon to conduct exercises with the Venezuelan navy.

The building of the cruiser, initially named after Yuri Andropov, began in 1986; however, due to budgetary restrictions, it was completed as late as in 1996. The vessel is powered by two nuclear reactors of 300 MW each; it is 253 meters long by 28 meters wide; its 727-member crew includes 97 military officers.

During his inaugural journey a steam tube was broken due to defective welding, resulting in four sailors dead.

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