A mega event took place on June 16 – launching a nuclear icebreaker Arktika of LK-60Ya type (design 22220) which is going to be the largest and all-powerful icebreaker in the world. “Baltic Yard – Shipbuilding” is constructing a total of three nuclear icebreakers of 22220 design by order of Atomflot.
Arktika will be equipped with three propulsion motors produced by RusElProm Group and custom-designed for the icebreaker. They had been delivered to Baltic Yard – Shipbuilding prior to the ceremonial date, on June 12, 2016. This event is important and critical not only in the history of two yards, but also in the country’s history, as marine machines of these capacities were created for the first time.
“It was crucial to make everything reliable, as these are unique engines, one-of-the-kind in the world. For better understanding: weight of each of them is 310 tons, and capacity – 20 MW – almost 27,000 h.p. The units are designed for operation in heavy Arctic conditions under constant overloads,” says Maksim Sviridov, Director Ship Electrical Machinery of RusElProm.
Major efforts were also taken in terms of equipment logistics – loading of motors onto the road train, transportation and discharging at Baltic Yard – Shipbuilding. The loading was ongoing for several days. After that, the equipment (dimensions of each cargo unit: 8.50 m х 5.59 m х 4.52 m / 270 tons) was hauled by TIS Group towards jetty on the Neva River.
The water route design was worked through with particular care. At the end of 2015, Volgo-Baltic Logistic had launched the preparation to deliver the propulsion motors from the specialized jetty in Ust-Slavyansk along the Neva to the Baltic Yard jetty. The company proceeded with meticulously managed action plan in June 2016, almost right after navigation was opened along the Volga-Baltic river way.
The loading was done by Ro-Ro method, and discharging – by Demag floating crane on the Baltic Yard jetty on Vasilyevskiy island. Motor accessories – air units, junction boxes, drain pipes – were transported by land. The motors are planned to be installed in autumn 2016.