The Polyarnaya Zvezda (Polar Star) border patrol ship completed its first long-distance inter-regional trip to its duty station at the Murmansk port, RIA Novosti reported, citing the press service of the Federal Security Service's Border Guard Service for the western Arctic region.

The Polyarnaya Zvezda border patrol ship, 1^st rank, project No. 22100, sailed from St. Petersburg to its permanent base, the port of Murmansk. The crew conducted all routine exercises, training and naval drills en route. "In difficult storm conditions of the North Atlantic Ocean, the crew demonstrated outstanding seamanship, and the ship's systems passed the strength test," the statement said.  

The Polyarnaya Zvezda ship was built under a project of the Almaz Marine Design Bureau at the Gorky Zelenodolsk Plant. According to the Border Guard Service, the ship is the first of its kind and is a completely new and unique vessel. "It integrates all the latest achievements of Russian science and technology," the service noted.

The ship is designed for a wide range of tasks: patrolling distant sea and ocean areas, protecting economic and other interests of Russia in the exclusive economic zone and on the continental shelf, countering terrorist threats at maritime economic activity sites, participating in rescue operations and firefighting, and providing support to special forces.

The ship has an endurance of up to 12,000 nautical miles, with autonomous sailing capabilities for up to two months. The ship can overcome 80-cm-thick ice hummocks. "These features will make resolving border tasks in the western Arctic much more efficient," the statement reads.

The ship is armed with heavy machineguns and an artillery unit. In addition, there is a helipad and a hangar to permanently house a multi-purpose deck helicopter (for the 24/7 performance of tactical tasks at a considerable distance from the ship). The ship is also equipped with the latest navigation and communication equipment.