Baltisky Zavod plans to start sea trials of the nuclear icebreaker “50 let Pobedy” before end of December 2006, Alexander Chistov, the company’s Director General told the reporters according to correspondent of PortNews IAA. Chistov says state commission is to come on December 11 in order to consider the state of the vessel and its possibility to start sea trials. Final decision on the vessel’s delivery is to be taken according to the trial results. Last financing came from federal budget in 2005; in 2006 Baltisky Zavod continued construction with investing part of its current assets.
The 159-meter (522ft) long and 30-meter (100ft) wide vessel has a displacement of 25,000 tons and speed of 18 knots. An upgrade of the Arktika-class nuclear-powered icebreaker, it is designed to break through ice up to 2.8 meters deep (9.2ft). Total capacity of the vessel’s three shafts is 75,000 h.p.
Nuclear icebreaker “50 let Pobedy” was launched on December 29, 1993. Then its construction was terminated owing to lack of financing. At the end of 1990-ies the construction resumed. The contract for equipment of the vessel was signed in February 2003. The quality of construction works is under supervision of Russian Maritime Registry of Shipping and Murmask shipping company.