Almaz warf to build speed-boat for Russian border guards

Representatives of United Machine-Building Plants (UMBP) have signed a contract with the Federal border service to build a Sobol speed-boat. A spokesman for the company's press office said that the contract is worth over USD 3 million and the boat will be built by the Almaz ship-building wharf, which is part of UMBP.

Specialists believe the new speed-boat could replace many of the border service's current boats. It will be made from strong and light aluminium and magnesium and will run on diesel. A machine-gun can be put in place at the front of the ship or at the stern.

Almaz has already produced patrol boats and speed boats for various countries and has gained recognition among foreign specialists as one of the best producers of such vehicles.

UMBP specialises in the engineering, production, sale and servicing of equipment and machines used in the atomic energy sector, the oil and gas complex, mining and river and sea transportation. In 2002, according to US GAAP, the company's sales came to over USD 435 million, a year-on-year rise of 39%. The company is active in over 30 different countries.