On
13 November 2016 nuclear-powered icebreaker Sibir was towed to ship repair yard
Nerpa in the Murmansk Region for scrapping. According to FSUE Atomflot, the
Sibir is the first nuclear-powered icebreaker to undergo scrapping.
To
ensure safe floating and towing the unmanned ship underwent comprehensive
engineering and radiation research as well as dock repairs.
The
Sibir will serve as an example to show that it is possible to scrape
nuclear-powered icebreakers without enormous time or money investments, said
Mustafa Kashka, Deputy Director General and Chief Engineer at FSUE Atomflot.
According to him, the ship was initially planned to undergo complete scrapping
but with the initiative of Atomflot the project was changed, hence the
reduction of costs from RUB 1.7 bln to RUB 700 mln.
Nerpa
personnel will take out the nuclear power plant and place it into preliminary
prepared package for further delivery to the place of long-term storage in
Saida Bay, The hull and a superstructure will be scrapped.
The
proceeds, about RUB 100-200 mln, will be used to finance scrapping of other
Atomfot vessels. The Arktika and Russia icebreakers have been decommissioned by
today.
Nuclear-powered
icebreaker Sibir was built by Baltiysky Zavod and put into operation in 1977.
The ship was taken out of service in 1992.
Characteristics of the Sibir:
length - 148 m, width – 30 m, depth – 17.2 m, designed draught – 11 m,
displacement – 23,460 t, power – 75,000 h.p., maximum speed in open water –
18.0 knots.
Source: 14
November 2016
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