Viktor Chernomyrdin icebreaker to be commissioned as planned - shipyards
ST. PETERSBURG. Nov 28 (Interfax) - The fire has not delayed the commissioning of the Viktor Chernomyrdin icebreaker, the press service of the Admiralty Shipyards told Interfax on Wednesday.
"The commissioning deadlines have not been moved. That will happen in summer 2019," the shipyard representative said.
The fire broke out onboard the icebreaker under construction at the Admiralty Shipyards in St. Petersburg on Tuesday evening and spread into the upper, third, and fourth decks. A worker was severely burnt and taken to a hospital, and another person refused to be hospitalized. According to the Emergency Situations Ministry, the fire area amounted to 200 square meters, while Admiralty Shipyards said it was less than 100 square meters.
A criminal case was opened after the fire.
The construction of the Viktor Chernomyrdin diesel-electric icebreaker began in October 2012. Its delivery to the client was initially planned for 2015 but delayed. Deputy Transport Minister Viktor Olersky said there were plans to build the icebreaker by late December 2018 and begin its ice trials in March or April 2019.
The diesel-electric icebreaker of Project 22600 is one of the world's most powerful and largest non-nuclear vessels. It is meant to operate on the Northern Sea Route. The ship has a length of 147 meters, a width of 29 meters, a draught of 8.5 meters, sea endurance of 60 days, a 25MW engine, and a crew of 128.
The ship has a unique electric propulsion system, which ensures full control in the stern-first movement through the ice. The hull air-bubbling system blows compressed air along the hull and prevents its icing.
The Admiralty Shipyards is a builder of surface ships and oil tankers.