Oblique icebreaker Baltika of project Р-70202 arrives at Yantar shipyard
On May 21, 2014, multipurpose emergency and rescue vessel Baltika of innovative project Р-70202 arrived at Baltic Shipbuilding Plant “Yantar”, the shipyard says in its press release. The world’s first icebreaking ship with an asymmetric hull and ability to operate sideways has been built by Kaliningrad shipbuilders in cooperation with Finnish colleagues.
Baltika has been delivered to Kaliningrad by two tugboats from Helsinki where she had undergone fitting-out and testing at Arctech Helsinki Shipyard. The delivery certificate will be soon signed at Yantar and the ship will be delivered to the customer in Saint-Petersburg.
The customer is the Federal Marine and River Transport Agency of Russia which signed the contract with Yantar on November 9, 2011. The vessel was laid down in Kaliningrad on June 6, 2012. Under the contract, Yantar, as the principal executor of the order, was in charge of hull works. They were completed in May 2013 and the ship then underwent fitting-out in Finland. Baltika was launched on December 12, 2013 and fulfilled the programme of sea trials in the Baltic Sea.
The innovative project Р-70202 was developed by Aker Arctic Technology (Finland). The vessel features an asymmetric hull, patented oblique design and three 360 degrees rotating propulsors, which allow the vessel to operate efficiently sideways, astern and ahead. In oblique mode the vessel will be able to generate 50 m wide channel in 0.6 m thick ice. Bow and stern first the vessel can operate in 1.0 m thick ice.
The icebreaker is fitted with special equipment for oil spill response activities, firefighting and environmental monitoring. Main particulars: Length - 76.4 m, Breadth overall - 20.5 m, Draught - 6.3 m, Propulsion power - 7.5 МW, Speed - 14 knots, Speed in flat ice 1.0 m thick - 3.0, knots, Crew - 24, Special personnel - 12, Sea endurance - 20 days (24 persons).
Class notation: KM✪Icebreaker6, [1], AUT1-ICS, OMBO, FF3WS, EPP, DYNPOS-1, ECO-S, Oil recovery ship (>60°C), Salvage ship, Tug.
Kaliningrad-based Baltic Shipbuilding Plant “Yantar” (Amber) was founded on July 8, 1945 on the basis of a Koenigsberg unit of German’s Schichau Werft. Yantar Shipyard specializes in building and repairs of warships and civil boats. Throughout the years the Shipyard has built 157 warships and more than 500 merchant vessels. The Russian Government holds the majority stake in the shipbuilding firm through Western Center of Shipbuilding, a subsidiary of the state-owned United Shipbuilding Corporation
Aker Arctic Technology Inc was set up on December 30, 2004. The company specializes in designing of icebreakers and other vessels intended for operation in Arctic conditions. It also provides technical consulting services. 50% of the company’s shares are controlled by the United Shipbuilding Corporation (Russia). The company with annual turnover of some EUR 6 mln numbers over 40 employees.