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SEVERODVINSK, RUSSIA (BNS): The second Borey-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) of Russia, Alexander Nevsky, has begun dock trials with President Vladimir Putin congratulating the personnel associated with the project.

President Putin, who visited the Sevmash shipyard on Monday along with Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov and Russian Navy chief Vladimir Vysotsky, expressed hope that the new sub would be handed over to the country's Navy by the end of 2011.

The fourth-generation nuclear submarine’s construction began at the Sevmash shipyard in 2004. The submarine is capable of launching Bulava intercontinental ballistic missiles.

The first Borey-class (Projet 955) submarine, Yury Dolgoruky, which completed sea trials in the White Sea in September this year, is getting ready to join Russian Navy’s Pacific Fleet.

The Borey class SSBNs have water displacement of 24,000 tons and they are capable to dive down to 450 meters. Each SSBN can carrying up to 16 ballistic missiles and torpedoes.

Russia is presently building four Borey class SSBNs and plans to build four more by 2015.

Sevmash shipyard is constructing two other vessels of the class, the Vladimir Monomakh and Svyatitel Nikolai (St. Nicholas), for the Navy.