In soviet Russia, ship breaks ice!

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[danny]

Russia has done what Russia does best... finding the biggest of something, then building a bigger one.

Russia has announced plans to build THE WORLDS BIGGEST NUCLEAR POWERED ICEBREAKER. Although details are still scarce, she will be 173 meters long and 34 meters wide. This is 14 meters longer and 4 meters wider than the current record holder, which is also Russian (surprise surprise). Her reactor will have a total output of 60 MW

She will be capable of not only breaking ice in the "deep Arctic", but also able to navigate shallow Siberian lakes(!). The construction of this vessel will hopefully attract more foreign cargo ships to Russia, presumably so they can sell more oil.

The contract was signed with Rosatom (the state owned nuclear power contractor) for construction of the next generation "Icebreaker LK-60" on the 23rd of august. The vessel is being built by Baltiysky Zavod shipyard in St Petersburg, and is planned to be on trails by the end of 2017.

[Rbsanford]

Impressive!

I wonder what the maximum thickness of ice she can break is. Judging by the size and strength, she would have no problem smashing through a breakwater (oh yeah!).

[danny]

Her draft is around 9 meters so I'd guess the ice would have to be pretty thick to even slow this thing down, let alone stop it!

[saltydog]

I really like those Russian icebreakers, they make the most powerful in the world.
I fear however she may be one of the last, because global warming will cause arctic ice to become less thick.
The Russians are even planning to drill for oil out there..

 Here  (http://en.rian.ru/russia/20120425/173044607.html) another interesting item about a new Russian icebreaker

[danny]

I think the americans are also going to try and drill for oil in the Arctic 

I love the russian icebreakers too! I actually have a very nice 3D model of the Arktika class somewhere, I should really dig it out sometime and finish it...

[gusten]

They have one more and bigger to be   build.


                            Rossiya      LK-60     LK-110
Length, m       148.0      164.0      193.6
Width, m         30.0        32.2        38.0
Depth, m         17.2        15.8        20.3
Draft, m                       11.0        10.5        13.0
Displacement, t       23500      32400      55600
Type of powerplant     NPP        NPP        NPP
Shaftpower, MW         49         60        110
Number of propellers    3          3          3
Speed, kn        20.8       22.3         24
Icebreaking
capability, m      2.25        2.9        3.5
Endurance, days    
unlimited   unlimited   unlimited
Crew                        145         92        127   

[danny]

They're making an even bigger one?!? 

[Rbsanford]

And after that an even bigger one.