Walruzja Codziennie | | Valruzia DailyValruzian Armaments Group announces completion of port expansionNowogard, 21 November, 4426
Northern Council member ships form a line at the recently refurbished port in Gryfitów.NOWOGARD - After over 4 years in the dark, Valruzian Armaments Group, under special authorization from Defense Minister Wawro, have publicized the completion of the port expansion project, often thought as phase 1 of "Project Phoenix". Investing over 250 million Valruzian Pesos into the work, new ships, largely belonging to Northern Council members were christened in the port. When asked why foreign ships were put into the port, Defense Minister Wawro stated "I'd think of it as a test, along with a celebration of sorts. Now with these revitalized ports, Valruzia serves as an excellent naval hub for NC members if they require operations within Seleya." But Wawro spoke also addressed the concerns of flexibility in their purpose, reassuring commercial shipping companies that the new ports could still serve the purpose of trading hubs. "It is not only a benefit to the Valruzian navy, but to shipping companies, both on our own soil and beyond."
Valruzian naval contractors begin work on constructing destroyers and submarinesNOWOGARD - Also to emerge from the publicized completion of the port expansion work was the proclamation of the construction of five submarines and five destroyers. With multiple contractors scrambling onto the project, exact cost estimates are unknown, but they are likely to rise well into billions of Pesos. The rest would be acquired from reserve stock of foreign navies, with Defense Minister Wawro and Foreign Minister Pilarczyk in cooperation with each other, hinting at future purchases with Lourenne, Dorvik, or Istalia, despite the anti-NC stance the Istalians hold. Each ship developed by national companies is expected to take 3 years, with a total estimate of 30 years for the rest of Valruzia's new fleet to be fully completed. These reports have only driven proponents of lower luxury taxes further. Public protests were conducted last year by department stores in Chynberg, putting pressure on the government to issue a speedy completion for the efforts. Once again Defense Minister Wawro waved away public opinion and vehemently defended Project Phoenix. "Frankly, our surplus is indeed large enough to purchase an entire new navy fleet for us, but we would prefer to have a mix of foreign and national ships. After all, what's a navy without ships made by your own countrymen?"