Arctica, the flagship versatile nuclear icebreaker operated by Atomflot, a Rosatom company, completed her sea trials and left St. Petersburg Port for the Northern Sea Route on December 1. The Project 22220 nuclear vessel was under guarantee repair since July 2021. The major work was the propulsion motor replacement.

“Arctica, world’s most powerful versatile nuclear icebreaker, is now back to her routine operations”, noted Mustafa Kashka, CEO of Atomflot. “With the new propulsion motor, the designed 60 MW power has been reached. Arctica will not make call at her homeport but will  provide icebreaker assistance to vessels along the Northern Sea Route as the ice conditions there are severe. Her voyage from the Gulf of Finland will take about 12 days”.

Currently, Atomflot’s Vaygach, Taymyr, and Yamal nuclear icebreakers are operating on the Northern Sea Route. Vaygach is assisting an 8-vessel westbound convoy (Kumpula, Selenga, Vladimir Rusanov, Severny Proekt, RZK Konstanta, Turukhan, Grigory Shelikhov, and Mechanic Pustoshny).

“The convoy has passed the Vilkitsky Strait, one of the most challenging Northern Sea Route segments”, noted Leonid Irlitsa, First Deputy Director General for Navigation, Atomflot. “For the first time we are providing icebreaker assistance at this time of the year. Vaygach’s Captain should make allowance for a different performance of each vessel of the convoy. Right now the convoy is navigating the Matisen Strait”.

Taymyr and Yamal nuclear icebreakers are operating under their long-term service contracts. 50 Years of Victory nuclear icebreaker will also leave for the Northern Sea Route as her repairs are completed in early December.

Background

Arctica, the flagship versatile nuclear icebreaker, was launched on October 21, 2020. Arctica passed 18,512 nautical miles in heavy ice and assisted 89 vessels in winter and spring 2020-2021. Her initial power was 50 MW (now upgraded to 60 MW).

Arctica Class 22220 Nuclear Icebreaker Specifications:
length: 173.3 m (CWL: 160 m)
beam: 34 m (CWL: 33 m)
hull height: 15.2 m
power (BHP): 60 MW
speed: 22 knots (in clear water)
draught: 10.5 m/9.03 m
max icebreaking capability: 2.9 m
displacement: 33,540 tons
rated service life: 40 years
crew: 54

Photo from the site of FSUE Atomflot
Source: Communications Department of FSUE Atomflot