In the fourth quarter of 2012, the Vladivostok icebreaker, project 21900 M, was laid at the Vyborg shipyard; the ship is one of the most powerful in its class. 21900 M is an improved version of the previously launched 21900. Vladivostok is the first of three icebreakers designed for the 21900 M project, and the third in the 21900 series. In 2006, Moscow and St. Petersburg came to the water. Both vessels were transferred to Rosmorport.
not The picture shows the icebreaker "Moscow" - the flagship of the 21900 series. The distinguished features of the modernized project include a larger number of crew members, the possibility of taking on board special personnel, transferring the helipad to the bow of the vessel, installing a more powerful crane, and an expanded cargo deck. In October 2015, the Vladivostok icebreaker, the first of three vessels of a new type, was transferred to the customer - Rosmorport digging.
Stages of creation
The construction of two of the three planned icebreakers of the 21900 M series began in 2012. The deadline for both was set for the beginning of winter navigation 2015-16. The third is due at the end of 2016. The ships were named Vladivostok and Murmansk. The first was built at a factory in Vyborg (Leningrad Region), the second - at a factory in Helsinki (Finland). According to official figures, as of February 2016, the Vladivostok icebreaker is operating in the relatively new oil loading seaport of Primorsk, located in the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea. Since both ships were built in parallel, they received the same blocks and even test dates, we will briefly go over the dates of the creation of one of them. Namely, the flagship of the series, which is the Vladivostok icebreaker, the photo of which is presented below.
In this view, the helipad located on the bow of the ship is clearly visible - a distinctive feature of the M project.
So, the chronology of the construction:
In October 2012, construction began.
August 5, 2013 - the ceremony began the formation of the corps.
April 29 next year, the future icebreaker is launched. Transition to equipment setup.
November 18 of the same (2014) year - installation of screw-steering columns.
December 2014 - April 2015 - mooring tests.
August 12 - delivery of a towing winch, windlass and mooring winches by Finnish colleagues.
On September 12, 2015, sea trials of the Vladivostok icebreaker begin, which lasted until October 5.
On October 9, 2015, a solemn ceremony of signing the certificate of delivery and acceptance of the vessel took place in St. Petersburg.
Design features
One of the interesting features of the 21900 project, which became a simpler implementation of the 21180 project, was the helical-steering column. The icebreakers of this project practically do not have the concept of "reverse". Thanks to the system of additional shafts, Vladivostok can move in any direction at the same speed, even with its bow, stern, or side. There is no shaft system in project 21180 - there the propellers are mounted directly on the axis of the electric motor, which is actually located outside the icebreaker’s hull, while at Vladivostok it’s inside.
Like the nuclear icebreaker, Vladivostok has a fuel reserve that allows it to stay at sea for up to 40 days, modern navigation equipment that makes it possible to work both in the clean sea and in difficult Arctic conditions, but it is not classified as a class nuclear icebreakers.
Atlant
For Vladivostok and subsequent orders, Vyborg shipbuilders built a special self-submersible barge Atlant in 10 months. The principle of its operation is not much different from the usual floating dock, with the exception that the Atlant is engaged in construction and not maintenance. The capabilities of the barge allow you to build ships up to 150 meters long and 30 meters wide (Vladivostok ~ 120 meters long, 27 meters wide).
During its construction, special types of steel were used, thanks to which the barge has the opportunity to work in ice. Work inside it can be carried out 24 hours a day and 365 days a year. Therefore, the Vladivostok icebreaker was built in just 2 years. In addition to launching and building ships, the barge is also designed to receive cargo outside the shipyard.
Flag raising
Arrival in St. Petersburg and mooring at the Lieutenant Schmidt embankment can be called a major sea trial of the vessel. Within three days (from September 22 to 25) during several excursions, anyone could get there and inspect the new icebreaker Vladivostok. The flag raising ceremony on the ship was one of the planned events of the exhibition, and on September 23, the Russian tricolor soared over the icebreaker.
As the governor of the region noted at a press conference, this is a real holiday for the whole country. The event was attended by representatives of local authorities, Deputy Minister of Transport, representatives of the Port Authority of the Black, Caspian and Azov Seas, and a representative of the Baltic Sea Port Authority.
Test
In addition to “visiting” the exhibition, for nearly a month the icebreaker was in the open sea. Checked the maneuverability of the vessel, the performance of individual units and all systems as a whole. Sea trials for ships of this class consist of two parts. Directly running - in the clear sea, and ice testing - in areas as close as possible to the places of future operation of the vessel. This allows you to identify all the shortcomings in time. The second ice test is scheduled for April 2016. Unlike working in the port, this time it is planned to call at the port of Murmansk and then Vladivostok will go to the Arctic to check the ice penetration.
According to official sources, more than one icebreaker will go to the Arctic . The company should make him “Murmansk” - the second ship, built on the project 21900 M in Helsinki. Upon completion of all tests, both vessels must return to St. Petersburg.
Vessel characteristics
Now it is time to take a closer look at the Vladivostok icebreaker: technical specifications, displacement, machine power and other parameters. For a better understanding, compare the icebreakers "Moscow" (21900) and "Vladivostok" (21900 M). So, the crew on “Moscow” is 26 people, on the new ship - 37. In addition to the main tasks, the new icebreaker can be used as a research vessel, and take on board 25 more scientists. Lengths are 114 and 119 meters, respectively. Displacement - 14000 and 14400 tons. Width - 28 and 27 meters. We will not compare the deck characteristics, we just indicate that the cabin is extended from side to side at the new icebreaker, and under the helipad, which has moved to the bow at Vladivostok, the useful deck space also continues. Both projects have one thing in common - both of them belong to the class of diesel-electric vessels, in this case they are linear diesel-electric icebreakers.
Based on this, the scope of use of the vessels of the new project is quite wide. In addition to laying tracks with a continuous speed of up to 2 km / h, they will be able to work as research, industrial and supply vessels.
From the inside
In addition to the main technical characteristics, we can separately mention that the developers reviewed not only the running characteristics. A new design was made for the icebreakers of the new project. Each detail meets the conditions of profitability, durability, fire safety. As noted by representatives of many St. Petersburg universities (whose graduates may have the honor of joining the team of new ships) - for the first time it can be called "a real sea house." Note that the plans of the corporation, which includes the Vyborg plant, the creation of special factories for the production of practical and good marine furniture. After all, the main thing in the business is not metal, structures, machines, but the people who manage all this. And if you consider that the scope of the new icebreakers is not limited only to work in the waters of the ports, this issue is of paramount importance.
Conclusion
The icebreaker "Vladivostok" began its working life in the winter navigation of 2015-2016 in the Russian sea oil port of Primorsk. In April 2016, he, together with Murmansk, the second icebreaker of the project 21900 M, went to ice trials in the Arctic. As they say to all ships - 7 feet under the keel and successful operation both in ice and in clear water