Russia’s new nuclear icebreaker completed, heads out to Murmansk

Alan Bailey

for Petroleum News

Construction of the Arktika, Russia’s newest nuclear icebreaker, has been completed and the vessel is heading from St. Petersburg to Murmansk, according to Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corp. Russia claims that the new vessel is the world’s largest nuclear icebreaker. Rosatom reports that the vessel is 173 meters in length, with a displacement of 33,540 tons. Two nuclear reactors power the vessel’s propulsion system. The vessel is the first of a series of four similar icebreakers, planned to be built in a program referred to as “project 22220.”

The Barents Observer has reported that one of the vessel’s three electrical propulsion engines is broken and will need to be replaced.

Russia’s particular focus is the operation of the Northern Sea route, the Arctic route around the north of the country, linking the Baltic Sea with South Korea and the north Pacific. With the continuing shrinkage of the Arctic sea ice extent and thinning of the ice, there is international interest in the potential for opening Arctic sea routes.

“The establishment of a modern nuclear-powered icebreaker fleet in Russia, capable of providing a regular year-round and safe navigation throughout the waters of the Northern Sea Route is a strategic goal for our country,” said Vyacheslav Ruksha, Deputy Director General and Director of the Northern Sea route Directorate of Rosatom. “I would like to thank the shipbuilders and all those who were involved in this project for their efforts. I am sure that further icebreakers of the project 22220 will be successfully constructed and will help to fulfill all Russia’s objectives in the Arctic Ocean.”

According to the CruiseMapper website, Russia’s icebreakers are used in the Arctic for escorting merchant ships, assisting Arctic offshore research stations, and for Arctic scientific and cruise expeditions. The Arktika’s nuclear reactors will need to be refueled every seven years.

- ALAN BAILEY