Arktika (2016 icebreaker)

Arktika (Russian: Арктика, tr. Arctic, IPA: [ˈarktʲɪkə]) is a Russian nuclear-powered icebreaker built by Baltic Shipyard in Saint Petersburg.[15] It is the lead ship of Project 22220 icebreakers and, once fully in service, will supersede the preceding class of nuclear-powered icebreakers as the largest and most powerful icebreaker ever constructed.[16]

For the previous nuclear-powered icebreaker of the same name, see Arktika (1972 icebreaker).
History
Russia
Name: Arktika (Арктика)
Namesake: Russian for the Arctic
Operator: FSUE Atomflot
Port of registry: Murmansk, Russia[1]
Builder: Baltic Shipyard, Saint Petersburg
Cost: RUB 36.959 billion[2]
Yard number: 05706[3]
Laid down: 5 November 2013[4]
Launched: 16 June 2016[5]
Sponsored by: Valentina Matviyenko[6]
Commissioned:
  • December 2017 (contract date)[7]
  • 21 October 2020 (commissioning ceremony)[8]
In service: November 2020–[9]
Identification:
Status: In service
General characteristics [11][12]
Class and type: Project 22220 icebreaker
Displacement:
  • 33,530 t (33,000 long tons) (dwl)
  • 25,540 t (25,140 long tons) (minimum)
Length:
  • 173.3 m (569 ft) (overall)
  • 160.0 m (525 ft) (dwl)
Beam:
  • 34 m (112 ft) (maximum)
  • 33 m (108 ft) (dwl)
Height: 51.25 m (168 ft)[13]
Draft:
  • 10.5 m (34 ft) (dwl)
  • 8.65 m (28 ft) (minimum)
Depth: 15.2 m (50 ft)
Ice class: RMRS Icebreaker9
Installed power:
Propulsion:
  • Nuclear-turbo-electric
  • Three shafts (3 × 20 MW)
Speed:
  • 22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph)
  • 1.5–2 knots (2.8–3.7 km/h; 1.7–2.3 mph) in 2.8 m (9 ft) ice
Endurance:
  • 7 years (reactor fuel)
  • 6 months (provisions)[14]
Crew: 75
Aviation facilities: Helideck and hangar

Development and construction

Background
Main article: Project 22220 icebreaker § Development

In the late 1980s,[17] the Russian research institutes and design bureaus developed a successor for the 1970s Arktika-class nuclear-powered icebreakers as part of a wider icebreaker fleet renewal program initiated shortly after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.[18] The new 60-megawatt icebreaker, referred to using a type size series designation LK-60Ya,[note 1] would feature a so-called dual-draft functionality which would allow the vessel to operate in shallow coastal areas after de-ballasting.[19] Although the preliminary designs had been developed almost two decades earlier, the LK-60Ya design was finalized in 2009 as Project 22220 by Central Design Bureau "Iceberg"[20] and the construction of the first vessel was awarded to Saint Petersburg-based Baltic Shipyard in August 2012.[21] Two additional contracts in May 2014 and August 2019 have increased the number of Project 22220 icebreakers under construction or on order to five.[22][23]

Construction
Arktika (left) and Sibir under construction at Baltic Shipyard in August 2018.

Shipbuilding contract and start of construction

The construction of the first Project 22220 icebreaker was awarded to Baltic Shipyard, the sole bidder in the public tender, on 3 August 2012 with a contract value of 36.959 billion rubles (about US$1.16 billion).[21]

The steel-cutting ceremony, which marked the beginning of construction, was held on 1 November 2012[2] and the keel was laid on the slipway on 5 November 2013.[4] By August 2015, 70 % of the hull assembly including the icebreaking bow had been completed, and the construction was proceeding according to the original schedule according to which the vessel would be delivered by December 2017.[7] The launching ceremony, initially scheduled for May 2016,[24] was held on 16 June 2016.[5][6] The new icebreaker was named Arktika, Russian for the Arctic, after her predecessor.[25]

While the hull of the icebreaker was still being assembled on the slipway, the shipyard began the construction of the 2,400-tonne (2,400-long-ton) superstructure that would be installed after launching.[26] Similarly, the 180-tonne (180-long-ton) RITM-200 nuclear reactors were installed after launching: the first one on 2 September 2016 and the second one on 21 September.[27]

Construction delayed by the Ukrainian crisis

By early 2017, it was revealed that the construction of the lead ship of Project 22220 icebreakers had fallen behind schedule and Baltic Shipyard was forced to apply for a one-year contract extension from the Russian Government. The reason for the delay was largely related to the Ukrainian crisis that began in November 2013. The ship's two main turbogenerators, initially ordered from the Ukrainian state-owned company Turboatom, had to be sourced domestically from Kirov-Energomash due to the deteriorated Russia–Ukraine relations. Similarly, the supplier of the integrated electric propulsion system was changed from the GE Power Conversion, a subsidiary of General Electric, to TSNII SET, a subsidiary of Krylov State Research Center.[28][29][30]

On 12 July 2017, President Vladimir Putin ordered the United Shipbuilding Corporation to postpone the delivery of the new icebreaker to 2019.[31] Further delays in the manufacturing and testing of the steam turbines later pushed this deadline to May 2020.[32]

Builder's trials

The quayside trials, which included testing of the ship's systems while connected to shore power, began in May 2018.[33] One year later, Arktika's reactors received their first batch of nuclear fuel[34] and in October 2019 the ship's nuclear power plant was brought to the minimum level of controlled reaction. In Russia, the latter event was referred to as "physical launching" of the reactors.

Arktika began the first stage of sea trials in Gulf of Finland under diesel power on 12 December 2019. During the two-day trials, the vessel achieved a speed of 6 knots (11 km/h; 6.9 mph) using the ship's auxiliary diesel power plant.[35][36][37]

The next trials, during which the vessel would sail for the first time on nuclear power, were originally scheduled for March–April 2020[38] but were later postponed to mid-June.[39] The three-week trials finally commenced on 23 June when Arktika was towed out to the Gulf of Finland by four tugboats[40][41] and concluded on 13 July.[42]

The final sea trials began in late August and were concluded on 16 September 2020, after which Arktika returned to Saint Petersburg to prepare the vessel for its maiden voyage to Murmansk.[25]

On 22 September 2020, Arktika departed Saint Petersburg for Murmansk. During the two-week voyage, the icebreaker would also head to the polar ice pack beyond Franz Josef Land to adjust the ship's electric propulsion system in ice-covered waters.[43] Arktika reached the geographic North Pole on 3 October[44][45] and, after the 1.1 to 1.2 metres (3.6 to 3.9 ft) thick ice turned out not to be enough to test the capabilities of the new nuclear-powered icebreaker, arrived in its home port on 12 October.[1]

While the signing of the final acceptance certificate for the nuclear-powered icebreaker was initially scheduled for 5 November 2020 according to a draft resolution of the Russian government,[46] it was signed at the official flag-raising ceremony held onboard Arktika in Murmansk on 21 October 2020.[8]

Propulsion motor failure and other issues

In February 2020, it was reported that the propulsion motor on the starboard shaft had failed during the quayside trials due to a short circuit and, if the 300-ton motor needs to be replaced, this may have an impact on the delivery date of the icebreaker.[47] In March 2020, it was further reported that Arktika may be accepted to trial service with reduced propulsion power of 40 to 50 megawatts while a replacement motor is being manufactured.[48] According to Central Design Bureau "Iceberg", this would reduce the vessel's maximum icebreaking capability by about 20 centimetres (8 in).[40] In late June, the United Shipbuilding Corporation confirmed that the vessel will be accepted for trial service in the Arctic in September or October with a limited propulsion power of 50 megawatts[49] while the replacement of the faulty propulsion motor is scheduled for August–November 2021.[50] The work, which requires cutting the icebreaker's hull to access and replace the failed components, will be carried out at Kronstadt Marine Plant.[51]

Russian icebreaker expert, Professor L. G. Tsoy, has publicly voiced concerns about the Arktika's excessive lightship weight which has led to the minimum operating draught in fresh water reportedly increasing from the planned 8.7 metres (29 ft) to 9.3 metres (31 ft). This would not allow the icebreaker to operate efficiently in shallow ice-covered river estuaries such as the Gulf of Ob.[45][52][53]

In June–August 2020, Rosatomflot filed three lawsuits against Baltic Shipyard in the Moscow Arbitration Court, claiming almost 1 billion rubles of compensation for undisclosed reasons.[54]

Career

Initially, Rosatom stated that one of the first missions of the newly-commissioned nuclear-powered icebreaker would be to take 25 Russian teenagers between 12 and 16 years old, finalists of the "Arctic Olympiad", to the North Pole in October 2020.[55] However, Arktika remained at Atomflot's base in Murmansk until mid-November after the official flag-raising ceremony. The vessel departed on its first working voyage on the Northern Sea Route on 14 November but briefly returned to Murmansk for minor technical adjustments.[56] The first escort operation was carried out on 24 November.[9] After the initial deployment, the icebreaker is expected to return to Murmansk to stock up provisions in mid-December and then head back to the Northern Sea Route.[57]

Design
Main article: Project 22220 icebreaker § Design

Arktika is 173.3 metres (569 ft) long overall and has a maximum beam of 34 metres (112 ft). Designed to operate efficiently both in shallow Arctic river estuaries as well as along the Northern Sea Route, the draught of the vessel can be varied between 8.65 and 10.5 metres (28 and 34 ft) by taking in and discharging ballast water, corresponding to a displacement between 25,540 and 33,530 tonnes (25,140 and 33,000 long tons).[11][12]

Arktika has a nuclear-turbo-electric powertrain. The onboard nuclear power plant consists of two 175 MWt RITM-200 pressurized water reactors and two 36 MWe turbogenerators.[58][59][60] The propulsion system follows the classic polar icebreaker pattern with three 6.2-metre (20 ft) four-bladed propellers driven by 20-megawatt (27,000 hp) electric motors.[61][62] With a total propulsion power of 60 megawatts (80,000 hp), Arktika is designed to be capable of breaking 2.8 metres (9 ft) thick level ice at a continuous speed of 1.5–2 knots (2.8–3.7 km/h; 1.7–2.3 mph) at full power when operating in deep water at design draught.[12]

Notes
  1. The type size series designation "LK-60Ya" (Russian: ЛК-60Я) comes from the Russian language word for "icebreaker" (Russian: ледокол, romanized: ledokol), propulsion power (60 megawatts), and the first letter of the Russian word for "nuclear" (Russian: ядерное, romanized: yadernoye).

References


  1. "Russia's latest nuclear-powered icebreaker to undergo major ice trials this year". TASS. 19 October 2020. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  2. "Baltic Shipyard holds steel-cutting for LK-60 icebreaker of Project 22220". PortNews. 1 November 2012. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  3. "VNIIR-Progress St. Petersburg supplies equipment to Atomflot nuclear icebreakers". ABS Electro. 26 December 2016. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  4. "Baltiysky Zavod lays down multipurpose icebreaker Arktika". PortNews. 5 November 2013. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  5. "Baltiysky Zavod launches Arktika, lead nuclear-powered icebreaker of Project 22220 (photo)". PortNews. 16 June 2016. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  6. "The launching ceremony of the world's largest nuclear icebreaker took place at the Baltijskiy Zavod in Saint-Petersburg". Rosatom. 16 June 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
  7. "Baltiysky Zavod completes construction of fore body of lead nuclear-powered icebreaker Arktika (photo)". PortNews. 13 August 2015. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  8. "На ледоколе "Арктика" поднят российский флаг" (in Russian). Sudostroenie.info. 21 October 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  9. "«Мы страна чудесная, любим создавать себе трудности»". 15 December 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  10. "Arktika (9694725)". Equasis. French Ministry for Transport. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  11. "Универсальный атомный ледокол проекта 22220" (in Russian). Rosatomflot. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  12. "Multipurpose nuclear icebreaker project 22220". United Shipbuilding Corporation. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  13. "Как ледокол "Арктика" готовился к ходовым испытаниям" (in Russian). Sudostroenie.info. 15 December 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  14. "Ледокол "Арктика" готов на 60%" (in Russian). Ruselprom. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  15. "The Nuclear icebreaker fleet". rosatom.ru. State Atomic Energy Corporation ROSATOM. May 2016. Archived from the original on 21 June 2016. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
  16. "Video: World's Largest Ice-Breaker Launched in St. Petersburg Shipyard". Russia Insider. 26 September 2017. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  17. Tsoy, L.G. (2012), "Не разучились ли наши судостроители проектировать ледоколы?", Морской флот (in Russian) (5)
  18. 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), 1, pp. 13–26
  19. 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
  20. "Largest icebreaker construction now underway". The Motorship. 26 January 2014. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
  21. "Baltic Shipyard to build new large nuclear-powered icebreaker (Project 22220 LC-60YA)". Navy Recognition. 7 August 2012. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
  22. "Baltiysky Shipyard to build three new icebreakers by 2020". Barents Observer. 8 May 2014. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
  23. "Russia's ATOMFLOT Orders 4th & 5th Project 22220 Nuclear-Powered Icebreakers". Naval News. 11 August 2019. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
  24. "Baltiysky Zavod schedules launching of lead nuclear-powered icebreaker Arktika, Project 22220, for May 26, 2016". PortNews. 21 August 2015. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  25. "The second stage of the lead universal nuclear icebreaker Arktika sea trials is completed". Rosatom. 17 September 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  26. "Superstructure of nuclear-powered icebreaker Arktika, Project 22220, laid down at Baltiysky Zavod (photo)". PortNews. 29 January 2016. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  27. "RITM-200 reactor plant installed on board nuclear-powered icebreaker Arktika (photo)". PortNews. 21 September 2016. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  28. ""Балтийский завод — Судостроение" срывает сроки сдачи атомных ледоколов для "Росатома"" (in Russian). DP.ru. 28 February 2017. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  29. "Troubled waters for Russia's nuclear icebreaker program". The Barents Observer. 1 March 2017. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  30. "TSNII SET (KSRC affiliate) and JSC Baltyisky Zavod signed a contract on delivery of integrated electric propulsion systems for a series of nuclear icebreakers 22220". Krylov State Research Centre. 27 November 2014. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  31. "Vladimir Putin orders to postpone delivery of nuclear-powered icebreaker Arktika to 2019". PortNews. 12 July 2017. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  32. "One of Russia's New Nuclear Icebreakers Facing Delays". Bellona. 10 September 2018. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  33. "Baltiysky Zavod starts mooring trials of Arktika icebreaker (photo)". PortNews. 4 May 2018. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  34. "Rosatomflot: Arktika icebreaker reactor to start up in autumn". Arctic.ru.
  35. "Russia's Largest Icebreaker Starts Sea Trials". Maritime Executive. 14 December 2019. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  36. "Атомный ледокол "Арктика" вышел на ходовые испытания" (in Russian). United Shipbuilding Corporation. 12 December 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
  37. "Nuclear-powered icebreaker Arktika completes sea trials". Teller Report. 14 December 2019. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  38. "Lead nuclear-powered icebreaker of Project 22220, Arktika, left for sea trials". PortNews. 12 December 2019. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  39. "Атомный ледокол "Арктика" выйдет на комплексные швартовные испытания 27 мая 2020 года" (in Russian). PortNews. 26 May 2020. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  40. "Головной универсальный атомный ледокол "Арктика" вышел на заключительный этап ходовых испытаний" (in Russian). Мурманский вестник. 23 June 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  41. "Атомный ледокол "Арктика" вышел на очередной этап ходовых испытаний" (in Russian). Sudostroenie.info. 23 June 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  42. "Атомный ледокол "Арктика" вернулся на Балтийский завод" (in Russian). Sudostroenie.info. 13 July 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  43. "Lead nuclear-powered icebreaker of Project 22220, the Arktika, heads out for Murmansk". PortNews. 22 September 2020. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  44. "Атомный ледокол "Арктика" достиг Северного полюса" (in Russian). Sudostroenie.info. 3 October 2020. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  45. "Russia's New Super Icebreaker Reaches North Pole During Ice Trials". High North News. 5 October 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  46. "Атомоход "Арктика" планируется сдать 5 ноября 2020 года" (in Russian). PortNews. 8 September 2020. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  47. ""Арктика" охромела на правый двигатель" (in Russian). Kommersant. 10 February 2020. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  48. ""Арктика" получит двигатель через год". Kommersant. 30 March 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  49. "Lead nuclear-powered icebreaker of Project 22220 to start operating in NSR waters from December 2020". PortNews. 21 October 2020. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  50. "Ледокол "Арктика" будет в опытной эксплуатации "Росатома" год" (in Russian). RIA Novosti. 29 June 2020. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  51. "Неисправный двигатель ледокола "Арктика" поменяют в Кронштадте" (in Russian). Sudostroenie.info. 29 June 2020. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  52. ""Арктику" сдадут к зиме" (in Russian). Kommersant. 15 June 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  53. Tsoy, L.G. (26 August 2020), Атомные ледоколы нового поколения в примитивном исполнении (in Russian), Информационное агентство «ПРоАтом»
  54. ""Атомфлот" молча требует от "Балтийского завода" миллиард" (in Russian). 47 новостей (47 news). 13 August 2020. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  55. "Атомоход "Арктика" отправится на Северный полюс 21 октября 2020 года" (in Russian). PortNews. 25 August 2020. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  56. "Russia's latest nuclear icebreaker had to abort maiden Arctic voyage". The Barents Observer. 17 November 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  57. "Arktika icebreaker leaves for its first working voyage". PortNews. 16 November 2020. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  58. "Serving the nuclear machine building industry since 1945" (PDF). JSC "Afrikantov OKBM". Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  59. "Kirovsky Zavod Will Manufacture a Steam-Turbine Plant for the World's Largest Nuclear-Powered Ice-Breaker". Kirovsky Zavod. 27 August 2013. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  60. "Турбогенератор РУСЭЛПРОМА установили на атомный ледокол" (in Russian). Ruselprom. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  61. "Электродвигатели "Русэлпрома" погружены на ледокол "Сибирь"" (in Russian). Ruselprom. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  62. ""Звездочка" изготовила лопасти гребных винтов для головного атомного ледокола" (in Russian). 20 April 2016. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.