New-Generation Icebreaker Keel-Laid at Baltiysky Zavod Shipyard

10.10.2012 The new-generation Project 22600 diesel-electric icebreaker LK-25 (25 megawatt) was laid down today at Baltiysky Zavod Shipbuilding Ltd in St. Petersburg. The ship will be constructed for Rosmorport. The solemn keel-laying ceremony was attended by Russian premier Dmitry Medvedev.

The keel laying was held with a 1.5-hour delay; participants expected arrival of Medvedev who was inspecting a traffic intersection at Western Highway being constructed in St. Petersburg. With arrival of Medvedev, the ceremony finally started and took somewhat 7 minutes, including the premier's speech. According to the head of Russian Government, construction of the new-generation icebreaker will be undoubtedly accomplished on time. "There will be more orders", promised Medvedev. "We're about to build a great fleet for the great country", said the premier.

Among other participants were St. Petersburg Governor Georgy Poltavchenko, Deputy Minister of Transport Viktor Olersky, Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Alexei Rakhmanov, President of JSC United Shipbuilding Corporation Andrei Diachkov, and Director General of Baltiysky Zavod Shipbuilding Ltd Alexander Voznesensky.

Earlier on this day, Dmitry Medvedev visited Admiralteyskie Verfi shipyard to take part in commissioning ceremony of Project 22280 research expedition ship Akademik Treshnikov handed over to Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring. The world-class project of research ship was developed by the Baltsudoproekt Design Bureau (affiliate of the Krylov Scientific Center).

It is planned to deliver the icebreaker to the orderer in Dec 2015. The project was developed by the Petrobalt Design Bureau.

The latest diesel-electric icebreaker of such power joined national icebreaking fleet 36 years ago. It was Krasin built in 1976 in Finland at Wartsila shipyard by order of the USSR.

General characteristics of Project 22600 icebreaker:

Length overall – 146.8 meters
Length between perpendiculars – 132.8 meters
Beam - 29 meters
Speed – about 17 knots
Powerplant output - 25 MW
Minimal draft – 8.5 meters
Extreme draft – 9.5 meters
Displacement – 22,258 tons
Sea endurance - 60 days
Icebreaking capability - 2 meters
Complement - 38 persons
Special personnel – 90 persons