ST. PETERSBURG –Despite the boat no longer being seaworthy, the cannons of the legendary Aurora cruiser ship are still capable of firing large-caliber shots, according to Capt. Lev Chernavin, head of the cruiser-turned-museum.

"Everything except the cannons was completely restored during recent extended repairs," said Chernavin, who was speaking on the eve of the centennial of the ship first sailing from the St. Petersburg shipyards on May 11, 1900.

"Although the Aurora is no longer capable of sailing by itself, the 14 cannons are still capable of firing loads of 152 mm caliber," he added. Three years ago, a display of this prowess was planned for the festivities marking the centenary of the beginning of construction of the three steam engine cruiser (with a 6,700 ton deadweight) was begun at the then St. Petersburg New Admiralty shipyard in 1897.

"But at the last moment, we decided against this, not wanting to reawaken the painful memories of previous activity by the cruiser," Chernavin said.

It was the firing of the Aurora's lead cannon that gave Petrograd's revolutionary masses the signal to violently overthrow the "Russian provisional government" on a gray October afternoon in 1917.

Shortly before this dramatic event, the Aurora's crew became the first in the tsarist navy to execute its commander and go over to the Bolshevik side.

Who visits a ship steeped in the traditions of a violent revolution that brought such tragedy to Russia?

"Chinese and Cuban tourists are among the most frequent foreign visitors to the Aurora," Chernavin said. He said Finnish and German tourists were the next largest groups.

Visitors are able to go aboard the ship and walk around the deck for free. If they wish, visitors can take a tour of the lower-deck facilities, at a cost of 5 rubles for Russians and 20 for foreigners.

The ship, which still serves as a training vehicle for junior navy personnel, is located at 2 Petrogradskaya Embankment (metro Gorkovskaya). It is open daily, except Monday and Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.