The first icebreaker in the world appeared in the 18th century. It was not a very large steamship, capable of breaking the ice in Philadelphia harbor. A lot of time has passed since the wheel was replaced by a turbine, and then a powerful atomic reactor. Today, huge nuclear-powered ships are cracking the Arctic ice with enormous power.
What is an icebreaker?
This is a vessel used in waters covered with a thick layer of ice. are equipped with nuclear power plants, and therefore have more power than diesel engines, making it easier for them to conquer frozen bodies of water. Icebreakers have another clear advantage - they do not need refueling.
Below in the article the largest icebreaker in the world is presented (dimensions, design, features, etc.). Also, after reading the material, you can get acquainted with the world's largest liners of this type.
General information
It should be noted that all 10 nuclear icebreakers that exist today were built and launched during the times of the USSR and Russia. The indispensability of such airliners is proven by an operation that occurred in 1983. At that time, about fifty ships, including diesel icebreakers, found themselves in the eastern Arctic, trapped in ice. Only thanks to the nuclear power were they able to free themselves from captivity and deliver important cargo to nearby settlements.
Nuclear-powered ships have been built in Russia a long time ago, because only our state has a long-distance connection with the Arctic Ocean - the famous maritime Northern Route, the length of which is 5 thousand 600 kilometers. It starts at and ends at Providence Bay.
There is one interesting point: icebreakers are specially painted dark red so that they are clearly visible in the ice.
Below in the article are presented the largest icebreakers in the world (top 10).
Icebreaker "Arktika"
One of the largest icebreakers, the nuclear-powered icebreaker "Arktika", went down in history as the very first surface ship to reach the North Pole. In 1982-1986 it was called “Leonid Brezhnev”. Its laying took place in Leningrad, at the Baltic Shipyard, in July 1971. More than 400 enterprises and associations, design and research scientific and other organizations took part in its creation.
The icebreaker was launched into the water at the end of 1972. The purpose of the vessel is to guide ships across the Arctic Ocean.
The length of the nuclear-powered vessel is 148 meters, and the side has a height of approximately 17 meters. Its width is 30 meters. The power of the steam-producing nuclear plant is more than 55 megawatts. The technical characteristics of the vessel made it possible to break through ice 5 meters thick, and its speed was clean water developed up to 18 knots.
Below are the 10 largest (by length) modern icebreakers in the world:
1. “Sevmorput” is an icebreaking transport vessel. Its length is 260 meters, its height corresponds to the size of a multi-story building. The ship is capable of passing through ice thickness of 1 meter.
2. "Arctic" - the largest nuclear icebreaker 173 meters long. It was launched in 2016 and represents the first nuclear icebreaker Russian Federation. Capable of breaking ice up to 3 meters thick.
3. “50 Let Pobeda” is a nuclear-powered marine icebreaker (the largest in the world) of the Arktika class, distinguished by its impressive power and deep landing. Its length is 159.6 meters.
4. “Taimyr” is a nuclear-powered river icebreaker that breaks ice at river mouths up to 1.7 meters thick. Its length is 151.8 meters. The peculiarity of the vessel is its reduced landing and the ability to operate at low extreme temperatures.
5. “Vaigach” - built according to the same design as “Taimyr” (but it is a little younger). Nuclear equipment was installed on the ship in 1990. Its length is 151.8 m.
6. “Yamal” - famous for the fact that it was on this icebreaker that the meeting at the beginning of the third millennium at the North Pole took place. The total number of trips of the nuclear-powered ship to this point was almost 50. Its length is 150 meters.
7. Healy is the largest US icebreaker. In 2015, Americans were able to travel to the North Pole for the first time. The research vessel is equipped with the latest laboratory and measurement equipment. Its length is 128 meters.
8. PolarSea is one of the oldest icebreakers in the United States, built in 1977. Seattle is the home port. The length of the vessel is 122 meters. Perhaps due to old age it will soon be written off.
9. Louis S. St-Laurent is the largest icebreaker built in Canada (120 meters long) in 1969 and completely modernized in 1993. This is the first ship in the world to reach the North Pole in 1994.
10. Polarstern - German nuclear-powered ship, built in 1982 and intended for scientific research. The oldest ship is 118 meters long. In 2017, Polarstern-II will be built, which will replace its predecessor and will take duty in the Arctic.
The largest icebreaker in the world: photo, description, purpose
"50 years of Victory" - in to a greater extent modernized experimental project of the 2nd series of icebreakers of the Arktika type. This vessel uses a spoon-shaped bow shape. It was first used in the development of the experimental Kenmar Kigoriyak (icebreaker, Canada) in 1979 and convincingly proved its effectiveness.
It is the largest and most powerful in the world equipped with a modern digital system automatic control. It also has a modernized set of means for biological protection of a nuclear power plant. It is also equipped with an environmental compartment, equipped with the latest modern equipment that collects and disposes of waste products of personnel on the ship.
The icebreaker “50 Let Pobedy” is not only engaged in the release of other ships from ice captivity, it is also focused on tourist cruises. Of course, there are no passenger cabins on the ship, so tourists are accommodated in ordinary cabins of the ship. However, the ship is equipped with a restaurant, sauna, swimming pool and gym.
Brief history of the ship
The world's largest icebreaker is “50 Years of Victory”. It was designed in Leningrad, at the Baltic Shipyard, in 1989, and 4 years later it was built and launched for the first time. However, its construction was not completed due to financial troubles. Only in 2003 was its construction resumed, and in February 2007, tests began in the Gulf of Finland. Murmansk became his home port.
Despite the slow start, today the ship has more than a hundred trips to the North Pole under its belt.
The most powerful and largest icebreaker “50 Let Pobedy” is the 8th nuclear icebreaker designed and built at the Baltic Shipyard.
"Siberia"
At one time, the Soviet Union had no equal in the construction of nuclear icebreakers. At that time, there were no such ships anywhere in the world, while the USSR had 7 nuclear icebreakers. For example, “Sibir” is a ship that became a direct continuation of nuclear installations of the “Arktika” type.
The vessel was equipped with a system satellite communications, responsible for fax, navigation and telephone communications. It also had all the amenities: a relaxation room, a swimming pool, a sauna, a library, a training room and a huge dining room.
The icebreaker "Sibir" went down in history as the first ship to make year-round navigation from Murmansk to Dudinka. It is also the second ship to reach the top of the planet at the North Pole.
In 1977 (the moment the icebreaker was put into operation) it had the largest dimensions: 29.9 meters in width, 147.9 meters in length. At that time it was the largest icebreaker in the world.
The importance of icebreakers
The importance of such vessels will only increase in the near future, because in the future many activities are planned for the active development of natural resources located under the bottom of the great Arctic Ocean.
In some areas, navigation lasts only 2-4 months, because the rest of the time all the water is covered with ice up to 3 meters thick or more. In order not to risk the ship and crew, and also in order to save fuel, planes and helicopters are sent from icebreakers to carry out reconnaissance in search of an easier route.
The world's largest icebreakers have important feature- they can autonomously navigate the Arctic Ocean throughout the year, breaking up ice up to 3 meters thick with their unusually shaped bows.
Conclusion
The USSR at one time had absolute dominance in the world in terms of the number of such ships. In total, seven nuclear icebreakers were built in those days.
Since 1989, some icebreakers of this type began to be used for tourist excursions, mostly to the North Pole.
In winter, the thickness of ice in the ocean averages 1.2-2 meters, and in some areas reaches 2.5 meters, but nuclear icebreakers are capable of navigating such waters at a speed of 20 kilometers per hour (11 knots). In ice-free waters, speeds can reach 45 kilometers per hour (or 25 knots).
June 16, 2016, Baltic Shipyard launched the lead nuclear icebreaker "Arktika" of project 22220. In the presence of several thousand spectators, the godmother of the icebreaker, Chairman of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko, broke a traditional bottle of champagne on the side of the icebreaker,
sending the largest and most powerful nuclear icebreaker in the world from the slipway, the press service of the United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) reports.
« Today is a special day for the Russian nuclear industry. The world's largest and most powerful nuclear icebreaker "Arktika" left the slipway of the Baltic Shipyard. A harsh region requires harsh technology. I am sure that the icebreaker “Arktika” will give a new impetus to the development of the Arctic latitudes. I am very glad that young shipbuilders are entering the industry and continuing everything that has been accumulated by other generations of shipbuilders. Thanks to the shipbuilders of this creation. You look at it, and you are filled with such pride for the country and the people who are building it. Thank you for preserving the St. Petersburg shipbuilding school. Our country is proud of the result of such work! Seven feet under your keel, great "Arctic", - wished Valentina Matvienko.
The Kirov Plant shipped a turbine for the icebreaker "Arktika" to the Baltic Shipyard >>
The day of the launching of the nuclear icebreaker symbolically coincided with the start of the Economic Forum in St. Petersburg.
The General Director of Rosatom, the customer of Project 22220 nuclear icebreakers, Sergei Kiriyenko, in his welcoming speech noted: “ Today's event is a huge victory in every sense! A lot of work has been done, and today there are no analogues to such an icebreaker as the Arktika in the world. Thanks to the team of the Baltic Shipyard, everything was done according to schedule, and by the end of 2017 the Arktika will go into operation. This icebreaker is the most modern in its characteristics; it implements all the technical capabilities that have never been used on other ships before. The icebreaker "Arktika" is truly new opportunities for our country!»
After the command from the chief builder of the lead nuclear-powered ship, Vadim Golovanov, to begin launching, the delay was cut, holding back more than 14,000 tons of the weight of the ship’s hull, and the Arktika smoothly descended into the waters of the Neva River.
Ahead of the shipbuilders« Baltic Shipyard-Shipbuilding» completion of the lead nuclear-powered vessel on the water, contract delivery date is December 2017*.
* The construction of the lead nuclear icebreaker LK-60Ya "Arktika" required the intervention of Vladimir Putin - only he was able to decide to shift the project from 2017 to 2019. Serial "Sibir" and "Ural" will be delivered in 2021 and 2022. Failure to meet deadlines, one of the key reasons for which was Russia’s conflict with Russia, could turn into a scandal: the president has already ordered “personnel, organizational and management decisions” to be made, the Accounts Chamber, the Prosecutor General’s Office and the FSB will begin inspections. Both the customer Rosatom and the contractors, in particular USC, can answer. But you shouldn’t expect high-profile layoffs, because the project was launched back when Rosatom was headed by the first deputy head of the presidential administration, Sergei Kiriyenko.
In May 2017, Vladimir Putin instructed to postpone the delivery date of the lead nuclear icebreaker LK-60Ya Arktika from 2017 to 2019. In addition, the president demanded that personnel, organizational and management decisions be made in connection with the failure of the government contract. In parallel, the Accounts Chamber, the Prosecutor General's Office and the FSB must conduct an audit of the project.
The world's second largest nuclear icebreaker left the slipway of the Baltic Shipyard >>
FSUE Atomflot (owns nuclear icebreakers, controlled by Rosatom) and Baltic Shipyard (BZS, part of USC) agreed on the construction of the Arctic in 2012; money for the icebreaker - 37 billion rubles - was allocated by the budget. In 2014, a contract was signed for 2 more icebreakers of the series - Sibir and Ural - for 84.4 billion rubles. "Arktika" was supposed to be commissioned at the end of 2017, "Siberia" - at the end of 2019, "Ural" - at the end of 2020.
Turbines became the key problem of the Arctic. They were supposed to be supplied by the Ukrainian Kharkov Turbine Plant, but after 2014 the supplier had to be replaced by KEM (inaccuracy - in fact, KhTZ was not supposed to supply turbines; when in 2013 KEM won the tender for the production of turbine units, it was planned that they would be manufactured at the Kirov Plant turbines can only be tested at KhTZ, where there is a special stand for this -). A government source says there are serious technical difficulties no: the first turbine is being tested at the KEM stand, the second should be tested by October. USC complained about personnel problems, a large time gap in the implementation of such projects, loss of competencies, reworking of the technical design and documentation.
In general, icebreaker contractors shift the blame for missed deadlines onto each other. Thus, USC believes that the weak links in the cooperation were the manufacturers of steam turbine units (STE) and electric propulsion systems (FSUE Krylov State Scientific Center - Krylov State Scientific Center). The Kirov plant reported that during the execution of the contract for the Arctic, checks are carried out that “do not reveal any violations of the law on the part of the plant.” The company added that the Krylov State Scientific Center delayed the delivery of generators by more than two years. The executive director of the Krylov State Research Center, Mikhail Zagorodnikov, believes that the delay is USC’s fault: the competition was held for five months, and although the technical design was ready in 2009, detailed design began only in 2013.
BZS also missed the delivery deadlines for both the LK-25 diesel icebreaker Viktor Chernomyrdin and the floating nuclear power plant Akademik Lomonosov.
Currently, the nuclear-powered icebreakers Taimyr and Vaygach are in operation, the life of their nuclear installations is being extended, which cannot happen indefinitely; when the icebreaker Yamal leaves, only the icebreaker 50 Let Pobedy will remain from the Arctic class. If by 2022 there are only four icebreakers, this will not be enough, since a sharp increase in cargo traffic from oil and gas fields, from Vostok Coal and Norilsk Nickel is predicted, and there are attempts to increase transit along the Northern Sea Route. By 2022, at least two new double-draft icebreakers should be built.
Help 24RosInfo:
The lead nuclear icebreaker of Project 22220 is being built to the class of the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping at« Baltic Shipyard-Shipbuilding» commissioned by the Rosatom State Corporation (the keel of the vessel took place on November 5, 2013) and will become the largest and most powerful nuclear icebreaker in the world.
Main characteristics of the Project 22220 nuclear icebreaker:
power.....60 MW (on shafts);
speed.....22 knots (in clear water);
length.....173.3 m (160 m along the vertical line);
width.....34 m (33 m along the vertical line);
height.....15.2 m;
draft.....10.5 m/8.65 m;
maximum ice penetration.....2.8 m;
total displacement.....33 540 t;
assigned service life.....40 years.
A nuclear icebreaker is a ship with a nuclear power plant, which is built specifically for use in waters covered with ice throughout the year. Thanks to the nuclear power plant, they are much more powerful than diesel engines and are easier to conquer frozen bodies of water. Unlike other ships, icebreakers have a clear advantage - they do not need to refuel, which is especially important in ice, where there is no way to get fuel.
It is also unusual that of the 10 nuclear icebreakers existing in the world, all were built and then launched on the territory of the USSR and Russia. Their irreplaceability was demonstrated by an operation that took place in 1983. About 50 ships, including several diesel icebreakers, are trapped in ice in the eastern Arctic. And only with the help of the nuclear-powered icebreaker "Arktika" they were able to free themselves from captivity, delivering the cargo to nearby villages.
The world's largest icebreaker is “50 Years of Victory”. It was laid down at the Baltic Shipyard in Leningrad in 1989, and four years later it was launched. True, construction was not completed, but was frozen due to financial troubles. Only in 2003 was it decided to resume it, and in February 2007, “50 Years of Victory” began undergoing tests in the Gulf of Finland, which lasted a couple of weeks. Then he independently went to his home port - the city of Murmansk.
Let's take a closer look at the history of the icebreaker:
“50 Years of Victory” is the eighth nuclear icebreaker built at the Baltic Shipyard and today it is the largest in the world. The icebreaker is a modernized project of the second series of nuclear-powered icebreakers of the Arktika type. “50 Years of Victory” is a largely experimental project. The vessel uses a spoon-shaped bow, first used during the development of the Canadian experimental icebreaker Canmar Kigoriyak in 1979 and which has convincingly proven its effectiveness during trial operation. The icebreaker is equipped with a new generation digital automatic control system. The complex of biological protection means for the nuclear power plant has been modernized and re-examined in accordance with the requirements of Gostekhnadzor. An ecological compartment has also been created, equipped the latest equipment for the collection and disposal of all waste products of the vessel.
During the period from 1974 to 1989, a series of second-generation nuclear icebreakers (Project 10520 and modernized Project 10521) were built in the Soviet Union. The lead ship of this series - the nuclear icebreaker "Arktika" of project 10520 - was laid down on July 3, 1971, and was launched on December 26, 1972, and put into operation on April 25, 1975.
On October 4, 1989, in Leningrad, on the slipway of the Baltic Shipyard named after Sergo Ordzhonikidze, the icebreaker of Project 10521, under the original name “Ural,” was laid down.
And although in the USSR nuclear-powered ships were fully commissioned in three to four years, the Ural took four years just to launch, due to the then situation in the country’s leadership and in the country as a whole.
It was expected that the ship would enter service in the mid-1990s, but due to a lack of funding, construction of the icebreaker was suspended and the huge ship remained at the berth, only 72% complete.
The Baltic Shipyard was forced to mothball the icebreaker at its own expense in order to maintain the possibility of its completion in the future.
Even renaming the icebreaker did not help to renew funding.
On August 4, 1995, on the eve of the visit of the then President of Russia to St. Petersburg and to the enterprise too, the nuclear-powered ship was renamed “50 Years of Victory”.
Over the many years of useless downtime at the Baltic Shipyard berth, several times it was proposed to cut up and dispose of the ship, but it literally miraculously avoided this.
Some of its units had expired their warranty life, although the ship did not make a single voyage.
At the end of the 1990s, when partial funding for construction began, work on the icebreaker “50 Let Pobeda” was resumed.
On October 31, 2002, government decree No. 1528-r was issued, according to which the completion of the icebreaker “50 Let Pobedy” was planned to be completed in 2003-2005. 2.5 billion rubles were allocated from the state budget to complete the work.
Until 2003, financing for the construction of the icebreaker was carried out on a general basis within the framework of the federal targeted investment program, and since 2003 - in accordance with the order of the Government of the Russian Federation of October 31, 2002 No. 1528-r.
In February 2003, the construction of the icebreaker entered the active phase after:
- The Baltic Shipyard became part of the shipbuilding assets of the United Industrial Corporation (UPK);
- a contract was signed between Baltic Shipyard OJSC and the Federal State Unitary Enterprise “Directorate of the State Customer for Maritime Transport Development Programs” for the completion of the vessel;
- government funds were allocated.
According to the concluded contract, financing for the completion of the nuclear-powered ship in 2003-2005 was to be carried out from the federal budget. Quality construction work the icebreaker was to be supervised by representatives of the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping and the Murmansk Shipping Company.
On August 13, 2004, at a meeting at the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation, a decision was made to increase funding for the construction of the icebreaker in the amount of 742.3 million rubles, of which 164 million were planned to be included in the 2005 budget and 578.3 million rubles in the 2006 budget. The need for additional funding was caused by new requirements to ensure nuclear safety in accordance with the requirements of Gosatomnadzor and the implementation of work associated with the long construction period of the vessel. In particular, the funds were needed for the design and manufacture the latest systems multi-channel reactor safety assurance, as well as for re-examination and audit of equipment and mechanisms.
On September 7, 2004, the icebreaker “50 Let Pobedy” was towed to the dock of the Kronstadt Marine Plant. After which specialists from the Baltic Shipyard, for the first time in the history of domestic shipbuilding, carried out docking work on an icebreaker under construction. Previously, docking of nuclear-powered ships was carried out only after several years of work and only at shipbuilding enterprises located in the Murmansk region.
Taking into account the fact that underwater systems and devices were installed on the icebreaker back in the early 1990s, during the completion of the vessel it was necessary to check their functionality. The most time-consuming operation was the revision of the stern tube device, which supports the propeller shaft and is designed to prevent sea water from penetrating into the icebreaker’s hull. To examine it, specialists dismantled the propeller and propeller shaft. Work at the dock lasted 2 months. To successfully carry out this work, the plant independently designed and manufactured special equipment. The proper operation of the stern tube device was a necessary condition to begin mooring tests on the icebreaker.
The vessel was also inspected: the right line of the propeller shaft, bottom-side fittings, pipeline systems and bottom fitting protectors, electrical navigation devices, anode assemblies and cathodic protection reference electrodes. In addition, the company’s specialists washed the outer lining of the underwater part of the icebreaker, bottom boxes and pipes of the bottom-side fittings at the dock. Dock work was carried out under the supervision of representatives of the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping and the Murmansk Shipping Company.
At the end of October 2004, after completion of docking work, the icebreaker was returned to the Baltic Shipyard.
The hull, superstructure and aft mast of the vessel were completely formed, and the installation of the main mechanical and electrical equipment was completed.
On November 31, 2004, a fire occurred on board the icebreaker “50 Let Pobedy” moored at the quay wall of the Baltic Shipyard. It started at 08:45 on one of the upper decks where the welders were working. The flames quickly spread across the deck, which was littered with building materials. A huge smoke screen formed over the icebreaker.
Firefighters who arrived on alert first began to evacuate the workers, some of whom had managed to ingest carbon monoxide. In total, firefighters rescued 52 people from the burning ship. Only after finishing the evacuation did they begin to search for sources of fire. According to preliminary data, he was on the third and fourth decks, where builders stored flammable building materials. total area The fire area was, according to various estimates, from 50 to 100 square meters. m. Nevertheless, the fire extinguishing was carried out according to the third complexity number (out of five possible) - about 22 fire crews (112 firefighters) were pulled to the icebreaker. According to firefighters, this was due both to the need for mass evacuation of workers, and to the fact that ship fires are considered one of the most difficult: their extinguishing is always made difficult by heavy smoke, the complex layout of ship premises and the abundance of open holds.
At eleven o'clock in the afternoon, firefighters announced that the spread of the fire had been contained. However, the firefighting continued until the evening - at 18:00 the icebreaker was still watering the premises.
Those involved in the fire extinguishing believed that the cause of the fire was most likely the negligence of workers or a short circuit. The version of arson was not even considered in the foreground: according to the participants in the extinguishing, the Baltic Shipyard has a very strict access control regime and the entry of strangers onto the icebreaker is practically excluded.
The threat of radiation contamination was out of the question, since the installation mounted on the icebreaker had not yet been filled with nuclear fuel.
As the press service of the Baltic Shipyard stated, the consequences of the fire will not affect the delivery date of the vessel to the customer. But it is much more likely that the icebreaker will not be built on time for financial reasons. Such concerns were expressed back in October 2004 at a meeting of the Maritime Council under the government of St. Petersburg by the head Federal agency sea and river transport. According to him, in 2005 the Ministry economic development and Trade of the Russian Federation agreed to finance only 10% of the cost of the work.
Following the results of the meeting held on September 18, 2005 in Vladivostok on the issue of socio-economic development Far East, the head of the Ministry of Transport announced that the nuclear icebreaker “50 Years of Victory” will be completed by the end of 2006.
During the completion of the icebreaker, specialists from the Baltic Shipyard carried out a loading operation nuclear fuel, thanks to which nuclear-powered ships have an almost unlimited cruising range without refueling.
On October 28, 2006, the state commission signed an act on the readiness of the Baltic Shipyard for the physical launch of nuclear reactors of the icebreaker “50 Let Pobedy”. The reactor plants were developed by FSUE OKBM.
In November 2006, the physical launch of nuclear reactors took place and brought them to the energy level of power, after which comprehensive mooring tests began.
In 2006 and the first quarter of 2007, financing of work on the icebreaker was carried out at the expense of working capital OJSC "Baltic Plant" and loans from commercial banks.
On January 17, 2007, the Baltic Shipyard completed comprehensive mooring tests on the nuclear icebreaker “50 Let Pobedy”.
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On January 31, 2007, the St. Petersburg OJSC Baltic Plant, part of the United Industrial Corporation, began state sea trials of the nuclear icebreaker 50 Let Pobedy.
From the Neva water area, where for so much large ships Maneuvering capabilities were limited; the ship was removed with the help of tugs. In the seaport of St. Petersburg, fuel supplies, fresh and feed water were loaded onto the icebreaker, after which it entered the Baltic Sea under its own power for the first time.
In open water, the icebreaker was tested for speed and maneuverability. They also checked the proper operation of navigation and communication systems, a desalination plant, steering, anti-icing and anchor devices and other equipment that could not be tested offshore.
The tests were carried out under the supervision of a state commission. Its members included representatives of the Federal Agency for Maritime and River Transport, Gostekhnadzor, Russian Maritime Register of Shipping, Federal Medical-Biological Agency, JSC Murmansk Shipping Company, RRC Kurchatov Institute, FSUE OKBM, JSC Central Design Bureau Iceberg and others organizations.
On February 17, 2007, state sea trials were successfully completed. The icebreaker showed high maneuverability and reliability. The State Commission confirmed the strict compliance of the quality of the ship's systems and mechanisms with domestic standards and international norms.
On March 23, 2007, JSC Baltic Shipyard handed over to the customer the world's largest icebreaker, 50 Let Pobedy. After the official ceremony of signing the acceptance certificate, the state flag of the Russian Federation was raised on the ship in a solemn atmosphere.
With the signing of the acceptance certificate, the ship became part of the Russian nuclear icebreaker fleet, simultaneously becoming state property. The Federal Property Management Agency, in turn, by order of the government of the Russian Federation, transferred the new nuclear-powered ship to the trust management of Murmansk Shipping Company OJSC.
On April 2, 2007, the icebreaker “50 Let Pobedy” left the shipyard in St. Petersburg and entered the Baltic Sea, heading for its permanent home port of Murmansk.
On April 11, 2007, the “50 Years of Victory” successfully completed the passage from St. Petersburg, entered the Kola Bay and entered the roadstead near its home port. The official welcoming ceremony took place on the same day on the territory of FSUE Atomflot in Murmansk.
Representatives of the executive and legislative authorities of Murmansk and the Murmansk region, Federal authorities gathered for the meeting between the crew and the world's largest icebreaker executive power, veterans and workers of the nuclear fleet of the Murmansk Shipping Company.
The icebreaker captain reported to CEO Murmansk Shipping Company on the successful completion of the transition and the readiness of the crew to carry out important government tasks along the Northern Sea Route and in the Russian Arctic.
The fact that the construction of the icebreaker “50 Let Pobedy” has been completed and it has arrived at its home port indicates that the country has finally realized the role and significance of the Northern Sea Route and the Arctic for the realization of its strategic interests, and is starting to infrastructure restoration.
The first working voyage on the Northern Sea Route was planned for the end of April 2007.
Navigating transport cargo ships along the Northern Sea Route is the first stage of operation of the nuclear-powered icebreaker “50 Let Pobeda”. At the second stage, the work of the icebreaker will probably be associated with the extraction of hydrocarbons on the Arctic shelf, the nuclear-powered ship will be engaged in servicing production platforms and guiding transport ships with hydrocarbons through the ice.
In addition, “50 Let Pobedy” replaced the nuclear-powered icebreaker “Arktika” - the first icebreaker of this class built. The permitted life of its nuclear power plant ended in 2008. The icebreaker "Arktika" has worked 175 thousand hours - this is the maximum permitted service life, and in this regard, the entry into service of the new nuclear-powered icebreaker was very timely.
At the end of June 2007, the icebreaker “50 Let Pobedy” was in the Barents Sea in the area of Cape of Hope of the Novaya Zemlya archipelago, where it was supposed to take two transport ships under escort and guide them through the ice into the Yenisei Gulf. In fact, this was the first ice test of a newcomer to the Arctic routes. Its crew had to check the operation of the nuclear power plant, equipment and mechanisms while sailing in difficult natural conditions. Only after passing this exam could the nuclear-powered icebreaker begin permanent work in Arctic waters.
On July 3, 2007, the nuclear-powered icebreaker “50 Let Pobedy” successfully completed its first piloting of motor ships heading to the port of Dudinka. Accompanied by the world's largest nuclear icebreaker, the ships traveled through the ice from Cape Zhelaniya on Novaya Zemlya to the Yenisei Gulf. Swimming went as usual
On June 25, 2008, the “50 Years of Victory” set off on its first voyage to the North Pole. There were about 100 tourists on board who wished to take part in a two-week excursion tour.
In March 2008, FSUE Atomflot became part of the State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom, on the basis of the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation “On measures to create the State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom” (No. 369 of March 20, 2008).
On August 27, 2008, in Murmansk, an act was signed on the completion of measures for the transfer of the icebreaker “50 Let Pobedy” and other vessels with a nuclear power plant, as well as nuclear technical service vessels from the trust management of OJSC “Murmansk Shipping Company” to the economic management of FSUE “Atomflot” " It was on this day that the trust management agreement for the nuclear icebreaker fleet, which was concluded by the government of the Russian Federation with joint stock company"Murmansk Shipping Company" and has been operating since 1998. On at this stage it was considered expedient to transfer federal property into the ownership of the State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom, which performs state functions for the development of the nuclear industry in the Russian Federation.
The icebreaker “50 Let Pobedy” is a modernized project of the second series of nuclear-powered icebreakers of the “Arktika” type. The icebreaker is equipped with a new generation digital automatic control system and a modern set of means to ensure nuclear and radiation safety of a nuclear power plant. The nuclear-powered ship is equipped with an Anti-Terror protection system and an environmental compartment with the latest equipment for collecting and recycling waste generated during the operation of the vessel.
The length of the vessel is 159 meters, width - 30 meters, total displacement - 25 thousand tons, speed - 18 maritime knots. The maximum thickness of ice that the icebreaker can overcome is 2.8 meters. It is equipped with two nuclear power plants. The ship's crew includes 138 people.
TACTICAL AND TECHNICAL DATA
Type: Nuclear icebreaker
State: Russia
Home port: Murmansk
Class: KM(*) LL1 A
IMO number: 9152959
Call sign: UGYU
Manufacturer: JSC "Baltiysky Zavod"
Length: 159.6 m
Width: 30 m
Height: 17.2 m (side height)
Average draft: 11 m
Power point: 2 nuclear reactors
Screws: 3 fixed pitch propellers with 4 removable blades
Displacement: 25 thousand tons
Power: 75,000 l. With.
Maximum speed in clear water: 21 sea knots
Speed in continuous fast ice 2.7 meters thick: 2 knots
Estimated maximum ice thickness: 2.8 m
Swimming autonomy: 7.5 months (by provisions)
Crew: 138 people. After a series of reductions, reduced to 106 people
Flag: RF
Mailing address: 183038, Murmansk 580, a/l “50 Years of Victory”
Email (at sea): [email protected]
Shipowner: FSUE "Atomflot" of the state corporation "Rosatom"
This nuclear-powered icebreaker is a modernized project of the second series of the Arktika-class icebreaker, which includes 6 of the 10 ships built. The thickness of the ice that the floating craft can overcome is 2.8 m. It has many differences from its predecessor, for example, here it was decided to use a spoon-shaped “nose”, which showed excellent results during testing of the prototype of the Canadian icebreaker Canmar Kigoriyak. In addition, a modernized complex of biological protection means for a nuclear power plant and a digital automatic control system have been installed here. latest generation, there is a special environmental compartment, which is equipped with equipment designed for the collection and disposal of all waste products of the craft.
Meanwhile, “50 Years of Victory” is not always engaged in rescuing other ships from captivity. In fact, it is also focused on operating Arctic cruises. So, you can personally go to the North Pole by paying a certain amount for a ticket. Since there are no passenger cabins as such, tourists are accommodated in the cabins of the ship. But on board there is its own restaurant, swimming pool, sauna, and gym.
In the near future, the importance of such icebreakers will only increase. Indeed, in the future, more active development of natural resources that are located under the bottom of the Arctic Ocean is planned.
Navigation on certain sections of the Northern Sea Route lasts only two to four months. The rest of the time the water is covered with ice, the thickness of which sometimes reaches 3 meters. In order not to waste extra fuel and not risk the crew and the ship once again, helicopters or reconnaissance planes are sent from the icebreakers to find an easier path through the ice holes.
Icebreakers are specially painted dark red so that they are clearly visible in white ice.
The world's largest icebreaker can autonomously navigate the Arctic Ocean for a year, breaking ice up to 3 meters thick with its spoon-shaped bow.
Nuclear icebreakers are built only in Russia. Only our country has such a long contact with the Arctic Ocean. The famous Northern Sea Route, 5,600 km long, runs along the northern coast of our country. It starts at the Kara Gate and ends at Providence Bay. For example, if you move from St. Petersburg to Vladivostok by this sea route, the distance will be 14,280 km. And if you choose the route through the Suez Canal, then the distance will be more than 23 thousand km.
Let's take a look at the insides of the Icebreaker:
But Russia is ready to present something that the world has not yet seen: scientists and designers are planning a 170-meter icebreaker with two 60-megawatt nuclear reactors. It will be 14 meters longer and 3.5 meters wider than the largest current one Russian icebreaker, and will become the largest universal nuclear icebreaker in the world.
Here we're talking about about metals for building icebreakers:
and here are a few photos of the body (taken here)
According to Nuclear.Ru, the dismantling of five Russian nuclear icebreakers will require about 10 billion rubles. This was announced by the head of the project office “Complex dismantling of nuclear submarines” of the State Corporation “Rosatom” Anatoly Zakharchev, speaking on October 9 at the 27th plenary meeting of the IAEA Contact Expert Group. He explained that today the dismantling of one nuclear icebreaker is estimated at 2 billion rubles, and in total it is planned to dismantle five icebreakers.
At the same time, the dismantling of two icebreakers - "Sibir" and "Arktika" - is included in the project of the Federal target program "Ensuring nuclear and radiation safety for the period 2016-2020 and until 2025", which is currently being formed. This program also includes work on the dismantling of the Lotta and Lepse floating maintenance bases and a number of other works.
The sign is already outdated and dates back to about 2013.
Clickable
White silhouette - construction planned
Yellow silhouette - construction underway
Red frame - the icebreaker was at the North Pole
B - icebreaker designed to operate in the Baltic Sea
N - atomic
Now let's start with the story...
The nuclear icebreaker Arktika went down in history as the first surface ship to reach the North Pole. The nuclear-powered icebreaker "Arktika" (from 1982 to 1986 was named "Leonid Brezhnev") is the lead ship of the Project 10520 series. The keel of the vessel took place on July 3, 1971 at the Baltic Shipyard in Leningrad. More than 400 associations and enterprises, research and development organizations took part in the creation of the icebreaker, including the Experimental Mechanical Engineering Design Bureau named after. I. I. Afrikantov and Research Institute of Atomic Energy named after. Kurchatova.
The icebreaker was launched in December 1972, and in April 1975 the ship was put into operation.
The nuclear-powered icebreaker "Arktika" was intended for escorting ships in the Arctic Ocean to carry out various types icebreaking operations. The length of the vessel was 148 meters, width - 30 meters, side height - about 17 meters. The power of the nuclear steam generating plant exceeded 55 megawatts. Thanks to your technical indicators The nuclear-powered icebreaker could break through ice 5 meters thick and reach speeds of up to 18 knots in clear water.
The icebreaker Arktika's first voyage to the North Pole took place in 1977. This was a large-scale experimental project, within which scientists had to not only reach the geographic point of the North Pole, but also conduct a series of studies and observations, as well as test the capabilities of the Arktika and the stability of the vessel in a constant collision with ice. More than 200 people took part in the expedition.
On August 9, 1977, the nuclear-powered ship left the port of Murmansk, heading for the Novaya Zemlya archipelago. In the Laptev Sea, the icebreaker turned north.
And so on August 17, 1977, at 4 o’clock in the morning Moscow time, the nuclear icebreaker, having overcome the thick ice cover of the Central Polar Basin, for the first time in the world reached the geographical point of the North Pole in active navigation. In 7 days 8 hours, the nuclear-powered ship covered 2,528 miles. The age-old dream of sailors and polar explorers of many generations has come true. The crew and members of the expedition celebrated this event with a solemn ceremony of raising the State Flag of the USSR on a ten-meter steel mast installed on the ice. During the 15 hours that the nuclear-powered icebreaker spent on the top of the Earth, scientists carried out a complex of research and observations. Before leaving the pole, the sailors lowered into the waters of the Arctic Ocean a commemorative metal plate with the image of the State Emblem of the USSR and the inscription “USSR. 60 years of October, a/l “Arktika”, latitude 90°-N, 1977.”
This icebreaker has high sides, four decks and two platforms, a forecastle and a five-tier superstructure, and is propelled by three four-blade fixed-pitch propellers. The nuclear steam production plant is located in a special compartment in the middle part of the icebreaker. The icebreaker's hull is made of high-strength alloy steel. In places exposed to the greatest ice loads, the hull is reinforced with an ice belt. The icebreaker has trim and roll systems. Towing operations are provided by a stern electric towing winch. To conduct ice reconnaissance, a helicopter is based on the icebreaker. Control and management technical means power plant operations are carried out automatically, without constant watch in engine rooms, propulsion motor rooms, power plants and at switchboards.
Operation control and control of the power plant are carried out from the central control station; additional control of the propulsion electric motors is located in the wheelhouse and aft station. The pilothouse is the ship's control center. On a nuclear-powered ship it is located on the top floor of the superstructure, from where it opens greater overview. The pilothouse is stretched across the vessel - 25 meters from side to side, its width is about 5 meters. Large rectangular portholes are located almost entirely on the front and side walls. Inside the cabin there is only the most necessary things. Near the sides and in the middle there are three identical consoles, on which there are control knobs for the movement of the vessel, indicators for the operation of the icebreaker’s three propellers and the position of the rudder, direction indicators and other sensors, as well as buttons for filling and draining ballast tanks and a huge typhon button for sounding. Near the left side control panel there is a chart table, near the central one there is a steering wheel, and at the starboard side control panel there is a hydrological table; All-round radar stands are installed near the navigation and hydrological tables.
At the beginning of June 1975, the nuclear-powered icebreaker guided the diesel-electric icebreaker Admiral Makarov along the Northern Sea Route to the east. In October 1976, the icebreaker Ermak with the dry cargo ship Kapitan Myshevsky, as well as the icebreaker Leningrad with the transport Chelyuskin, were rescued from ice captivity. The captain of the Arctic called those days the “finest hour” of the new nuclear-powered ship.
Arktika was decommissioned in 2008.
On July 31, 2012, the nuclear icebreaker Arktika, the first ship to reach the North Pole, was excluded from the Register of Ships.
According to information announced by representatives of the Federal State Unitary Enterprise Rosatomflot to the press, the total cost of dismantling the Arktika a/l is estimated at 1.3-2 billion rubles, with funds allocated under the federal target program. Recently, there was a broad campaign to convince management of the refusal to dismantle and the possibility of modernizing this icebreaker.
Now let’s come closer to the topic of our post.
In November 2013, at the same Baltic Shipyard in St. Petersburg, the laying ceremony of the lead nuclear icebreaker of Project 22220 took place. In honor of its predecessor, the nuclear-powered icebreaker was named “Arktika”. The universal double-draft nuclear icebreaker LK-60Ya will become the largest and most powerful in the world.
According to the project, the length of the vessel will be more than 173 meters, width - 34 meters, draft at the design waterline - 10.5 meters, displacement - 33.54 thousand tons. It will be the largest and most powerful (60 MW) nuclear icebreaker in the world. The nuclear-powered ship will be equipped with a two-reactor power plant with the main source of steam from the RITM-200 reactor plant with a capacity of 175 MW.
On June 16, the Baltic Shipyard launched the lead nuclear icebreaker “Arktika” of Project 22220,” the company said in a statement, as quoted by RIA Novosti.
Thus, the designers passed one of the most important stages in the construction of the ship. "Arktika" will become the lead ship of Project 22220 and will give rise to a group of nuclear icebreakers necessary for the development of the Arctic and strengthening Russia's presence in this region.
First, the rector of the St. Nicholas Naval Cathedral baptized the nuclear icebreaker. Then Speaker of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko, following the traditions of shipbuilders, broke a bottle of champagne on the hull of the nuclear-powered ship.
“It is difficult to overestimate what has been done by our scientists, designers, and shipbuilders. There is a feeling of pride in our country, the people who created such a ship,” Matvienko said. She recalled that Russia is the only country that has its own nuclear icebreaker fleet, which will allow it to actively implement projects in the Arctic.
“We are reaching a qualitatively new level of development of this rich region,” she emphasized.
“Seven feet under your keel, great “Arktika”!” - added the speaker of the Federation Council.
In turn, Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy for the Northwestern Federal District Vladimir Bulavin noted that Russia is building new ships, despite the difficult economic situation.
“If you like, this is our response to the challenges and threats of our time,” Bulavin said.
General Director of the Rosatom state corporation Sergei Kiriyenko, in turn, called the launch of the new icebreaker a great victory for both the designers and the staff of the Baltic Shipyard. According to Kiriyenko, the Arctic opens up “fundamentally new opportunities both in ensuring the defense capability of our country and in solving economic problems.”
Project 22220 vessels will be able to conduct convoys of ships in Arctic conditions, breaking through ice up to three meters thick. The new ships will provide escort for vessels transporting hydrocarbons from the fields of the Yamal and Gydan Peninsulas, the Kara Sea shelf to the markets of the countries of the Asia-Pacific region. The double-draft design allows the vessel to be used both in Arctic waters and at the mouths of polar rivers.
Under a contract with FSUE Atomflot, the Baltic Shipyard will build three nuclear icebreakers of Project 22220. On May 26 last year, the first production icebreaker of this project, Siberia, was laid down. Construction of the second nuclear-powered submarine "Ural" is planned to begin this fall.
The contract for the construction of the lead nuclear icebreaker of Project 22220 between FSUE Atomflot and BZS was signed in August 2012. Its cost is 37 billion rubles. The contract for the construction of two serial nuclear icebreakers of Project 22220 was concluded between BZS and the state corporation Rosatom in May 2014, the cost of the contract was 84.4 billion rubles.
sources
The first icebreaker appeared back in the 18th century, it was a small steamship breaking ice in Philadelphia harbor. A lot of time has passed since then, the wheel was replaced by a turbine, then by a nuclear reactor, and now the Arctic ice is being cracked. Our TOP includes the 10 largest icebreakers in the world.
1 “Northern Sea Route”, length 260 meters
Strictly speaking, this is an icebreaking transport vessel, the height of a multi-story building. But the Northern Sea Route is capable of traversing ice 1 meter thick, and who can say that it has not earned the title of icebreaker?
2 "Arctic", length 173 meters
"Arktika" is a nuclear icebreaker launched in 2016, the first in a series of new nuclear icebreakers of the Russian Federation. The icebreaker can break and move through ice up to 2.9 meters thick.
3 “50 Years of Victory”, length 159.6 meters
The nuclear-powered icebreaker of the Arktika class (sea, as opposed to the Taimyr class, river), is distinguished by its deep landing and impressive power. “50 Years of Victory” is a typical long-term construction project, the construction of which took place from 1989 to 2007. Despite the long start, by now the ship has already completed more than 100 trips to the North Pole.
4 “Taimyr”, length 151.8 meters
Taimyr is a nuclear-powered icebreaker that breaks ice up to 1.77 meters thick at river mouths so that ships can enter them. Features: reduced fit and the ability to work in extremely low temperatures.
Brother of the Taimyr, built according to the same design, but a little younger. Nuclear equipment on the ship was installed in 1990.
6 “Yamal”, length 150 meters
“Yamal” is the same famous icebreaker on which the beginning of the third millennium was celebrated at the North Pole. In total, the number of flights to the North Pole is approaching 50.
7 “Healy”, length 128 meters
Healy is the largest US icebreaker, on which Americans reached the North Pole for the first time independently in 2015. This vessel is literally crammed with the latest measuring and laboratory instruments, since its main function is research.
8 “Polar Sea”, length 122 meters
Another US icebreaker, an “old man” in the fleet, built in 1977. The home port is Seattle, but it seems that soon this icebreaker will be scrapped, and our Top Ten largest icebreakers will have to be rewritten.
9 "Louis S. St-Laurent", length 120 meters
The Canadian "Louis S. St-Laurent" was built even earlier - in 1969, but in 1993 it underwent a complete modernization. This is Canada's largest icebreaker, which in 1994 became the world's first ship to reach the North Pole from the shores of North America.
10 “Polarstern”, length 118 meters
This is a German vessel designed for research purposes, built in 1982. Old age made its creators think about a replacement, and in 2017 “Polarstern-II” is expected, which will take over the Arctic watch watch.
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