For several years no nuclear powered ships, either civilian or military, visited Cape Town or South African waters. On a regular basis, these vessels did pass South Africa on the outskirts of its territorial waters.

The visit of the USS Theodore Roosevelt in October of 2008 was met with great expectation and at the time it was hoped that it would pave the way for future visits of nuclear vessels.  A mere 3 months later and the flagship of the Russian Northern fleet, the missile cruiser, “Pyotr Velikiy” (CGHMN) moored in Cape Town harbour.  Translated from Russian, it means “Peter the Great”. Named after Peter the Great, who proclaimed the first Russian empire in 1721, the vessel was laid down in 1986 and launched in 1996 but only commissioned in 1998.

Russian Federation Flag

The pride of the Russian Northern Fleet

She was the victim of economical and political turmoil both before and after the fall of the Soviet Union which caused the delay of the commissioning.Her visit to Cape Town was not without controversy.  The SAN applied on behalf of the Russian Navy for permission of the visit via the South African National Nuclear Regulator.  Although everything was done according to the rules and within time, the NNR refused permission a mere 5 days before the vessel was due to dock.  According to the NNR the refusal related to a safety certificate from the Russian regulatory authority; a liability letter that provided only for international nuclear damage; and an emergency plan that was "not comprehensive enough".  The issues were resolved and authorisation granted on Friday 9 January 2009 followed by a final meeting on Monday 12 January 2009. She sailed into Cape Town harbour during the late afternoon of the same day.  Scheduled to set sail around 1700 on 14 January 2009, the Cape Doctor had the final say.  A 40 knot wind caused a delay (mainly in the interest of safety) and she left the Cape for India early on the morning of 15 January 2009.