In the Far East, they began to build the most powerful nuclear icebreaker. We tell what is known about him

What is an atomic icebreaker?

This is a ship that has a nuclear power plant. It is built specifically for

in order to use year-round coveredice. 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.

Note that the production of atomic icebreakersonly Russia is involved. We have the only nuclear icebreaker fleet in the world whose task is to ensure shipping on the northern seas and the development of the Arctic shelf.

Photo: CDB "Iceberg"

How dangerous is such a construction?

In matters of danger or safety, we can proceed only from those accidents that occurred earlier in the production of atomic icebreakers in the USSR.

In February 1965, on the icebreaker "Lenin"scheduled repairs were carried out. The ship's staff made a mistake: they left the icebreaker without cooling, and it broke down. Further operation of the reactor was impossible and it was decided to dispose of it.

"Lenin" was towed to Severodvinsk. There, nuclear fuel was unloaded from the reactor, and instead a special substance was loaded, which had the ability to solidify under certain conditions. Then, in the Tsivolki Gulf of the Kara Sea at a shallow depth, the bottom of the ship was blown up. The explosion was directed, as a result of which an inoperative reactor fell out and sank.

The resulting radioactive background exists to date. This does not allow the use of the area for fishing and shipping.

How will the new icebreaker be different?

According to the CEO of RosatomflotMustafa Kashka, the ship of the project 10510 has no analogues. The unique nuclear icebreaker has exceptional technical characteristics that will enable it to guarantee year-round operations in the eastern region of the Arctic.

What characteristics will he have?

Nuclear-powered icebreaker will be built according to the technical designIceberg Central Design Bureau. The total capacity of power plants of the icebreaker will be 120 MW, which will allow the vessel to overcome ice more than 4 m thick at a speed of 2 knots. With an ice thickness of 2 m, the speed of the icebreaker will be up to 12 knots. Key Features: Speed ​​- 22 knots (for clean water); length - 209 m; width - 47.7 m; ice penetration (maximum) - 4 m; displacement during draft on the wake line is almost 70 thousand tons.

The ship will be equipped with a nuclear power plantwith two RITM-400 reactors, a steam turbine unit with four turbogenerators of 37 MW each and an electric propulsion system with four propeller motors of 30 MW each.

Photo: Zvezda shipbuilding site

When is it planned to complete the construction?

According to the terms of the contract, the icebreaker is scheduled to be commissioned in 2027.

Let us note that the first cutting of the icebreaker metal for construction took place today, July 6.

Photo: Zvezda shipbuilding site

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