Fire Erupts on Soviet-Era Carrier Minsk in China

Chinese media is reporting a significant fire has erupted aboard the former Soviet Kiev-class aircraft carrier Minsk, which has been languishing in a man-made lagoon along the Yangtze River in China for years. The vessel, once a formidable part of the Soviet Navy, is now at the center of a large-scale emergency response.

The fire broke out on August 16, around 4:00 PM local time, according to a report from the Su Xitong Technology Industrial Park Fire Rescue Brigade, which is leading the response efforts. The blaze started while the carrier was undergoing demolition and renovation at the Su Xitong Park, a site north of the Sutong Bridge, where the Minsk had been anchored since 2016.

Chinese emergency services, including firefighters, police, and other relevant authorities, are currently on the scene, battling the flames and attempting to bring the situation under control. Fortunately, there have been no reports of casualties so far. However, the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The Minsk, launched in 1978, was a symbol of Soviet naval power during the Cold War. After serving in the Soviet Navy, the vessel was decommissioned in 1993 and sold to South Korea’s Daewoo Heavy Industries. In 1998, a Chinese company acquired the carrier, transforming it into a military theme park in Shenzhen’s Yantian District. In January 2013, the carrier changed hands again, being purchased by Dalian Yongjia Group. The following year, Dalian Yongjia signed an investment agreement with the Su Xitong Technology Industrial Park (now Su Xitong Technology Industrial Park) to develop the carrier into a tourist resort.

After its move from Shenzhen to Nantong in 2016, the Minsk had been sitting largely idle, a stark contrast to its once-proud service in the Soviet fleet. The planned transformation of the carrier into a tourism hub never fully materialized, and the ship became a decaying relic of a bygone era.

The ongoing fire represents another chapter in the turbulent post-service history of the Minsk. This incident underscores the challenges of repurposing and maintaining retired naval vessels, especially those with such complex and storied pasts.

As the situation develops, gCaptain will continue to provide updates on the fire and its aftermath. The future of the Minskremains uncertain, but this fire could very well signal the end of its long and winding journey.

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