New port icebreaker named Ob delivered to FSUE Atomflot
On 18 October 2019, Vyborg Shipyard (Leningrad Region) hosted the ceremony of signing acceptance/delivery certificate for port icebreaker Ob. The document was signed by Mustafa Kashka, General Director of FSUE Atomflot (a company of Rosatom Corporation), and Aleksandr Solovyov, General Director of Vyborg Shipyard, Atomflot says in a press release.
“Diesel-electric icebreaker Ob is a flagship of the Portoflot (Port Fleet) project, - said Atomflot Director Mustafa Kashka. – Innovative technologies are needed today to be competitive in the Arctic. The first non-nuclear-powered icebreaker of Rosatomflot is a unique representative of its class. The ship features a modern electric propulsion plant and innovative electric power system.”
Exclusive technical characteristics of the diesel-electric icebreaker Ob were highly appraised by a commission of the International Competition for Scientific, R&D and Innovative Solutions for the Arctic Development. Aleksandr Degterev, head of the group for technical supervision of shipbuilding under Portoflot project, was awarded with the third class laureate diploma for the project “Innovative design – port icebreaker Aker ARC 124 (hull No 232) ‘Ob’”.
“It should be specially noted that all vessels of Portoflot project have been built in Russia, - says Vyacheslav Ruksha, Deputy Director General of Rosatom and Director of NSR Directorate. – Rosatomflot let realize the engineering potential of domestic shipbuilders. Diesel-electric icebreaker is a bright example”.
In November, diesel-electric icebreaker Ob of FSUE Atomflot will commence operation in the water area of port Sabetta. Port icebreaker Ob of Project Aker ARC 124 (Icebreaker7 class) has a power of 12 MW. The ship can operate efficiently in 1.5-meter thick level ice at 2 knots and achieve at a speed of 4 knots in 5-meter thick consolidated brash ice. The ship was laid down by Vyborg Shipyard on 27 September 2016.
Vessel’s characteristics: length – 89.2 m, breadth – 21.9 m; draught – 7.5 m. The power plant consists of three medium-speed main generating sets and a separate harbor generator. Four ice strengthened azimuth propulsion units, each with a shaft output of 3000 kW, provide a bollard pull of 115 tons. With two azimuth propulsion units in the bow and two units in the stern of the vessel, the icebreaker can maneuver efficiently in any direction.
The Portofleet project is a new activity of FSUE Atomflot which covered the construction of Pur, Tambey, Nadym and Yuribey tugboats as well as port icebreaker Ob.
Operation in Arctic ports requires special skills and special vessels. FSUE Atomflot operates a state-of-the-art fleet involving seafarers whose professional competence has been confirmed by successful operation in the Arctic.
As of today, the company offers a full range of port services in the water area of port Sabetta. Port fleet, together with nuclear-powered icebreakers, assists gas carriers with cargo capacity of over 170,000 cbm.
The icebreaker will be owned and operated by FSUE Atomflot under a package contract on escorting of vessels and servicing of the water area at port Sabetta within the framework of Yamal LNG project. The contract signed in November 2014 covers the period up to December 31, 2040.
