On his visit to the institute, Mr Putin was brought to a unique circulating pool for testing models of ships and their parts. 

Mr Putin was shown a simulator complex used to eliminate under-bridge collision between ships. These tests are conducted as part of the project of constructing a bridge in the Neva estuary under which oceanic ships will be able to pass.

Mr Putin was also shown another state of the art model - a buoy designed for sea-based oil platforms. This research was ordered by Gazprom, which is planning to use oil drilling platforms in developing the Stockman field. Employees at the institute demonstrated for the Prime Minister one of the test phases on a monitor, whereby a Russian model was compared with the Norwegian one. "Ours is more stable," Mr Putin said, looking at the monitor.

Director Valentin Pashin recalled that the Krylov institute conducted prototypical tests of the operation on lifting the Kursk submarine, and showed Mr Putin the relevant model.

Mr Putin also visited the institute's museum, where he was told about the building of the first submarine, and was shown models of vessels made by the institute's employees.