Russia's Baltic Shipyard Started Dock Trials of 33,000 tons Icebreaker Arktika.

Workers of the Baltic Shipyard in St. Petersburg in northwest Russia have completed the fitting-out of the Project 22220 versatile nuclear-powered icebreaker Arktika and started its dock trials, the shipyard’s press office said.

Baltic Shipyard in St. Petersburg in northwest Russia have completed the fitting-out of the Project 22220 versatile nuclear-powered icebreaker Arktika and started its dock trials

"Specialists of the Baltic Shipyard have completed the fitting-out of the Project 22220 lead icebreaker Arktika and started its dock trials," the press office said.

During the trials, the shipbuilders will check the quality of the work done and the operation of shipborne equipment. Besides, propulsion units and auxiliary mechanisms will undergo preliminary tests. The shipbuilders will also examine life support equipment. Before the trials began, a mast with radar equipment was mounted on the icebreaker Arktika.

"The mast was brought to the shipyard’s outfitting quay with the use of a floating crane. The shipbuilders used portal cranes to house the mast. Once the mast was installed, the dimensions of the vessel were finally shaped," the press office added.

The icebreaker Arktika is the Project 22220 lead ship. The Baltic Shipyard is building two icebreakers of the same type, namely the Sibir and the Ural, for the Rosatomflot Company that is a subsidiary of Russia’s Rosatom Corporation.

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Artist impression of nuclear powered icebreaker "Arktika" (project 22220). Image: Atomflot

Navy Recognition Comments
The three icebreakers were originally planned to be delivered to the customer in 2017, 2019 and 2020, respectively. The three icebreakers are currently under construction at the Baltic Shipyard in St. Petersburg on order of Rosatomflot Company, part of Russia’s Rosatom Corporation. The Project 22220 lead icebreaker Arktika was laid down at the Baltic Shipyard in November 2013. The project is estimated at 122 billion rubles ($1.9 billion).

The icebreaker incorporates technologies that were not used in the nuclear-powered fleet earlier. In particular, the ship’s double draught with a controlled submersion depth will allow it to lead a group of vessels in ice-covered areas and river outlets and its new nuclear reactor will make it possible to navigate for more than six months without calling at ports for recharging.

The icebreaker is planned to be able to navigate about seven years without refueling. The icebreaker will receive two water desalination systems able to process 70 tons of water each.

Project 22220 Nuclear-powered Icebreakers are set to become the largest and most powerful icebreakers in the world. Their length is 173.3 meters with a width of 34 meters and draft of 10.5 meters. Projected tonnage is 33,540 tons. It will be fitted with two RITM-200 pressurized water reactors for a capacity of 175 MW.