First steam-generation unit placed on board nuclear-powered icebreaker Arktika (photo)
Baltiysky Zavod – Sudostrojenije (United Shipbuilding Corporation) says the first of the two steam-generation units of RITM-200 reactor plant has been placed today, September 2, onboard the Arktika, lead icebreaker of Project 22220.
RITM-200 is a two-reactor plant developed by Afrikantov OKBM specially for the icebreaking fleet. Each reactor has a heat rate of 175 MW.
The first steam-generation unit of RITM-200 RP weighing some 180 t has been loaded onto the icebreaker by a floating crane Demag. The second unit is to be installed within a month.
“Unique character of the lead icebreaker of Project 22220 makes us meet technological challenges throughout the entire period of its construction, particularly with regard to such challenging operations as installation of the reactor plant, a ‘hart’ of the nuclear-powered icebreaker”, said Aleksei Kadilov, Director General of Baltiysky Zavod – Sudostrojenije. “For Baltiysky Zavod, it is an additional experience increasing our expertise in nuclear shipbuilding” he added.
The Arktika, lead icebreaker of Project 22220 was laid down at Baltiysky Zavod in November 2013 and launched on June 16, 2016. The Sibir, first serial icebreaker of the Project, was laid down on May 26, 2015. The Ural, the second serial 60MW icebreaker of project 22220, was laid down on July 25, 2016.
Three nuclear-powered icebreakers of Project 22220 ordered by Rosatom Corporation will be built to RS class. The Arktika will be the world’s largest and most powerful icebreaker.
General characteristics of the vessels: capacity - 60 MW, operational speed - 22 knots (clean water), length - 173.3 m (160 m, DWL), beam - 34 m (33 m, DWL), depth - 15.2 m; draft (DWL) - 10.5 m / 8.65 m, maximum icebreaking capability - 2.8-meter-thick ice; full displacement – 33,540 tonnes; designated service life - 40 years.
The icebreaker will be powered by two RITM-200 reactors of 175 MW. The system of the new generation was developed specially for this ship.
The ship was designed by Central Design Bureau Iceberg in 2009.
The icebreaker’s advanced dual-draft capability makes it suitable for operations both in the Arctic waters and in the mouths of the northern rivers. The icebreakers will be operated in deep waters of western Arctic areas (Barents, Pechora and Kara Seas) and in shallow waters of river estuaries (Yenisey’s mouth and the Gulf of Ob).
Baltiysky Zavod OJSC (Saint-Petersburg) specializes in construction of rank 1 surface-crafts, ice class vessels with nuclear and diesel-electric propulsion plants, nuclear floating energy units, floating distilling plants.
The shipyard was set up in 1856. In its history Baltiysky Zavod which had built over 600 ships and vessels and was privatized several times and returned to state control when financial problems arose. In late 2011, the shipyard once more fell under the control of the state represented by the United Shipbuilding Corporation. To preserve the staff and the competence of the shipyard, USC founded Baltiysky Zavod – Sudostroyeniye LLC. The Company’s staff currently numbers 4,000 employees.
The backlog of orders of Baltiysky Zavod-Sudostroyeniye LLC is currently valued at about RUB 150 bln. The largest orders are: three 60-MWt nuclear icebreakers, 25-MWt diesel-electric icebreaker, floating power unit of the world’s first floating nuclear heat and power plant, engineering products. In 2015, the Company’s revenue totaled RUB 11.857 mln, net profit – RUB 1.229 mln, current assets – RUB 62.736 bln.
United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC OJSC) is the largest shipbuilding company in Russia. It was set up in 2007 with 100% federal ownership. The holding comprises 60 companies and organizations (major shipbuilding and shiprepairing companies as well as leading design bureaus). Currently, USC consolidates about 80% of the domestic shipbuilding complex. The Russian market is the main focus of the state corporation though it also exports its products to 20 countries worldwide.
