Nuclear-powered icebreaker
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A nuclear-powered icebreaker is an icebreaker with an onboard nuclear power plant that produces power for the vessel's propulsion system. Although more expensive to operate, nuclear-powered icebreakers provide a number of advantages over their diesel-powered counterparts, especially along the Northern Sea Route where diesel-powered icebreaker operations are challenging due to the heavy power demand associated with icebreaking, limited refueling infrastructure along the Siberian coast, and the endurance required. Template:Asof, Russia is the only country that builds and operates nuclear-powered icebreakers, having built a number of such vessels to aid shipping along the Northern Sea Route and Russian arctic outposts since the Soviet era.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
History of nuclear-powered icebreakersEdit
The first nuclear icebreaker was the Soviet vessel Lenin, which was launched in 1957 as the world’s first nuclear-powered surface vessel and the first civilian-operated nuclear vessel.<ref>"Soviet Life". Soviet Life. 2 (149): 57. February 1969.</ref> An experimental nuclear-powered vessel, Lenin began icebreaking service along the Northern Sea Route in 1959 and continued to do so until 1989.<ref>Paine, Lincoln P (1997). Ships of the World. Houghton-Mifflin. pp. 298. Template:ISBN. Template:LCCN.</ref> From 1967 to 1971 Lenin was refurbished, with new capabilities developed in the process.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The second-generation nuclear-powered icebreakers, Arktika class (Project 10520 and 10521), utilized an improved reactor design and turbo-electric propulsion train to deliver significantly improved icebreaking performance, allowing the vessels to provide year-round icebreaking service along the Northern Sea Route and conduct voyages into the Arctic Ocean.Template:Citation-needed
As natural gas exploration increased along the Siberian coast, the Murmansk Shipping Company (MSCO) found that the existing Arktika-class were challenging to operate within the shallow coastal deltas. To fill this capability gap, they ordered two slightly smaller shallow-draught icebreakers from Wärtsilä Marine Helsinki Shipyard in Finland and installed their nuclear powerplants at Baltic Shipbuilding in Leningrad (today St. Petersburg).Template:Citation-needed
In the late 1980s, the Central Design Bureau "Iceberg" began designing a replacement for the Arktika- and Taymyr classes. The program called for a series of icebreaker designs ranging from smaller diesel-powered auxiliary icebreakers to two nuclear-powered icebreaker types, 60-megawatt "line icebreaker" (LK-60Ya) and 110-megawatt "icebreaker-leader" (LK-110Ya).<ref>Tsoy, L.G. (1994), "New generation Arktika class nuclear icebreaker feasibility study", Proceedings of the Fifth International Conference on Ships and Marine Structures in Cold Regions, 1994 (ICETECH'95), pp. P1–P8</ref>
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The LK-60Ya was realized as Project 22220, the first of which was laid down in 2013 and commissioned in 2020. Although similar in size and propulsion power to the preceding Arktika-class, Project 22220 is a dual-draft vessel capable of operating at Template:Convert shallower draft, allowing it to perform roles of both Arktika- and Taymyr classes.<ref>"Испытание Дудинкой. «Сибирь» поборола лишний вес" (in Russian). Fontanka.ru. 2 February 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2022.</ref> The first LK-110Ya-type icebreaker, realized as Project 10510, was laid down in 2021. When completed, the lead vessel Rossiya will be the largest nuclear icebreaker in the world.<ref>Manaranche, Martin (2020-05-04)."Russia Signs Contract to Build World's Largest Nuclear-Powered Icebreaker". Naval News. Retrieved 2021-12-23.</ref>
Although Russia has historically been the only country to build and operate nuclear-powered icebreakers, several other countries have expressed interest in doing so. In 2019, China announced plans that it would build a nuclear-powered icebreaker similar to the Russian Project 22220.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Template:Asof, construction on this proposed nuclear icebreaker has not commenced.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Use of nuclear-powered icebreakersEdit
Commercial icebreakingEdit
The Northern Sea Route runs along the Siberian coast from the principal ports of Murmansk to Petropavlovsk and Vladivostok. The route includes sections of the Barents Sea, the Pechora Sea, the Kara Sea, the Laptev Sea, and the Eastern Siberian Sea to the Bering Strait. It provides the only feasible means to deliver heavy equipment, such as natural gas production modules or military vehicles, to communities along the Siberian coast and the Russian Arctic islands. Key ports served along the Siberian coast are Dikson, Tiksi, Pevek, and the Yamal Peninsula.Template:Citation-needed
During the winter, the ice along the Northern Sea Route varies in thickness from Template:Convert. The ice in central parts of the Arctic Ocean is on average Template:Convert thick. Nuclear-powered icebreakers can force through this ice at speeds up to Template:Convert. In ice-free waters, the maximum speed of the nuclear-powered icebreakers is as much as Template:Convert.Template:Citation-needed
Two types of nuclear-powered icebreakers are used along the Northern Sea Route: the heavy Arktika-class and shallow draft Taymyr-class.Template:Update-inline With a draft of Template:Convert the Arktika-class vessels are unable to navigate the shallow river deltas leading to several key Siberian ports. The smaller Taymyr-class provides icebreaking service in these regions, particularly the Yenisei River to Dikson.Template:Citation-needed
Scientific explorationEdit
The icebreakers have also been used for a number of scientific expeditions in the Arctic. On August 17, 1977, Template:Ship was the first surface vessel in the world to reach the North Pole.
Arctic tourismEdit
Since 1989 the Arktika-class nuclear-powered icebreakers have also been used to ferry tourists to the North Pole. Each participant pays up to US$25,000 for a cruise lasting three weeks. Sibir was used for the first two tourist cruises in 1989 and 1990. In 1991 and 1992, the tourist trips to the North Pole were undertaken by Sovetskiy Soyuz. During the summer of 1993, Yamal was used for three tourist expeditions in the Arctic. The last two vessel of the Arktika-class (Yamal and 50 Let Pobedy) contain a separate accommodation section for tourists.
Quark Expeditions chartered 50 Let Pobedy for expeditions to the North Pole in 2008. The vessel's maiden voyage to the North Pole embarked in Murmansk, on June 24, 2008. The ship carried 128 guests in 64 cabins in five categories. 50 Let Pobedy completed a total of three expeditions to the North Pole in 2008 for the polar adventure company.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and offering it for a North Pole cruise.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Nuclear-powered icebreaker classesEdit
Russian nuclear-powered icebreaker fleetEdit
Russia's nuclear-powered icebreaking fleet is owned by the federal government. Initially, the icebreakers were operated by the Murmansk Shipping Company (MSCO); however, in 2008 they were transferred to the state-owned corporation Rosatom and operated by the subsidiary Atomflot.<ref>Henderson, Isaiah (July 18, 2019). "Cold Ambition: The New Geopolitical Faultline". The California Review. Retrieved July 18, 2019</ref> Rosatom is also responsible for the safe navigation of vessels along the Northern Sea Route.<ref>Путин назначил «Росатом» инфраструктурным оператором Северного морского пути = Rosatom as the infrastructure operator of the Northern Sea Route // Коммерсантъ (28 декабря 2018). Дата обращения: 27 июля 2019. Архивировано 27 июля 2019 года.</ref>
IcebreakersEdit
- Lenin: an experimental 16,000 tonne, 134 meter long icebreaker commissioned in 1957.<ref>"Soviet Life". Soviet Life. 2 (149): 57. February 1969.</ref> The Lenin was initially powered by three OK-150 (90Template:NbspMWt) nuclear reactors, which were replaced with two OK-900 (171Template:NbspMWt) reactors in 1971.<ref name=":0" /> Lenin was decommissioned in 1989 and has since been converted to a museum ship in its former homeport of Murmansk.<ref>"Lenin (Ship)". Britannica. Retrieved 2020-05-28.</ref>
- Arktika class (Project 10520 and 10521): six 24,000 tonne, 148 meter long heavy icebreakers commissioned from 1977 to 2007.<ref>Tsoy, L.G.; Stoyanov, I.A.; Mikhailichenko, V.V.; Livshits, S.G. (1995), "Perspective types of Arctic icebreakers and their principal characteristics" (PDF), Proceedings of the 13th International Conference on Port and Ocean Engineering under Arctic Conditions, 1995 (POAC'95), vol. 1, pp. 13–26</ref> The Arktika-class icebreakers are powered by two OK-900A (171Template:NbspMWt) nuclear reactors with turbo-electric propulsion driving three propellers.<ref name=":0">Reistad, Ole; Ølgaard, Povl L (April 2006). Russian Nuclear Power Plants for Marine Applications (PDF) (Report). Nordic Nuclear Safety Research (nks.org). Template:ISBN. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-04-17. Retrieved 2023-06-18.</ref> Only two of the initial six vessels remain in active service.<ref name=":1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- Template:AnchorTaymyr class (Project 10580): two 20,800 tonne, 152 meter long shallow draft icebreakers commissioned from 1987 to 1989. The Taymyr-class is powered by one KLT-40M nuclear reactor (171Template:NbspMWt) with turbo-electric propulsion driving three propellers.<ref name=":0" />
- Project 22220: 33,000 tonne, 173 meter long heavy icebreakers currently under construction at Baltic Shipyard which will replace the previous Arktika- and Taymyr-classes. Template:Asof, four vessels have been completed and an additional three are under construction or planned. Project 22220 icebreakers are powered by two RITM-200 (175Template:NbspMWt) nuclear reactors with turbo-electric propulsion driving three propellers.<ref name=":0" />
- Project 10510: a 69,700 tonne, 209 meter long heavy icebreakers currently under construction at Zvezda Shipyard to augment Project 22220. Template:Asof, one hull is under construction. The vessel will be powered by two RITM-400 nuclear reactors (315Template:NbspMWt) with turbo-electric propulsion driving four propellers.<ref>Реакторная установка для атомохода Лидер. Какой она будет? = Reactor plant for the nuclear-powered “Leader”. What will it be like? Дата обращения: 29 октября 2021. Архивировано 29 октября 2021 года.</ref>
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Ice-strengthened cargo shipEdit
- Sevmorput: a 61,900 tonne, 260 meter long ice-strengthened LASH cargo ship commissioned in 1988. The Sevmorput is powered by one KLT-40 (135Template:NbspMWt) nuclear reactor and a steam turbine-driven controllable pitch propeller.<ref name=":0" />
List of nuclear-powered icebreakersEdit
| Ship name | In service | Status | Project number | Class | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lenin | 1959–1989 | Decommissioned | 92 | — | Converted to museum ship in Murmansk |
| Arktika | 1975–2008 | Decommissioned | 10520 | Arktika | Reactors removed; awaiting scrapping<ref name=":1" /> |
| Sibir | 1977–1992 | Decommissioned | 10520 | Arktika | Reactors removed; awaiting scrapping<ref name=":1" /> |
| Rossiya | 1985–2013 | Decommissioned | 10521 | Arktika | Awaiting scrapping<ref name=":1" /> |
| Taymyr | 1989–present | In service | 10580 | Taymyr | |
| Sovetskiy Soyuz | 1990–2014 | Decommissioned | 10521 | Arktika | Awaiting scrapping<ref name=":1" /> |
| Vaygach | 1990–present | In service | 10580 | Taymyr | |
| Yamal | 1993–present | In service | 10521 | Arktika | |
| 50 Let Pobedy | 2007–present | In service | 10521 | Arktika | Launched as Ural |
| Arktika | 2020–present | In service | 22220 | Project 22220 | |
| Sibir | 2021–present | In service | 22220 | Project 22220 | |
| Ural | 2022–present | In service | 22220 | Project 22220 | |
| Yakutiya | 2024–present | In service | 22220 | Project 22220 | |
| Chukotka | 2026 (planned) | Under construction | 22220 | Project 22220 | |
| Leningrad | 2028 (planned) | Under construction | 22220 | Project 22220 | |
| Stalingrad | 2030 (planned) | Ordered | 22220 | Project 22220 | |
| Rossiya | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> || Under construction || 10510 || Project 10510 || |
See alsoEdit
- Template:Annotated link
- Icebreakers of Russia
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ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
- Gallery of Russian nuclear icebreakers
- The Nuclear icebreaker fleet - on Rosatom official site Template:In lang
- Template:YouTube
Template:Nuclear-powered icebreakers of Russia Template:Polar exploration Template:Authority control