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Video: Russia Launched the Second Project 22220 Nuclear Icebreaker Sibir

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Naval Industry News - Russia
 
 
 
Video: Russia Launched the Second Project 22220 Nuclear Icebreaker Sibir
 
The Sibir (Siberia), the second in a series of three Project 22220 nuclear-powered icebreakers, intended to escort cargo vessels along the Northern Sea Route, was launched at the Baltic Shipyard in St. Petersburg.
     
Russia Launched the Second Project 22220 Nuclear Icebreaker SibirLaunch of Sibir, the second Project 22220 nuclear icebreaker
     
"Thank you for your work, for the revival of the industry. The Sibir has a predecessor - an icebreaker commissioned in 1977 which has already valiantly served its life. It set an absolute record by reaching the North Pole in May. I want today’s Sibir to be a record holder, too," said Alexei Likhachev, CEO of the Rosatom State Corporation.

As Alexei Rakhmanov, President of the United Shipbuilding Corporation, noted, the Arctic cannot be developed without difficulties, but the shipyard’s workers demonstrate a decent level of workmanship. "Of course, we encountered great difficulties while building the lead vessel, but probably there is no other way to break in the Arctic ice. I'm sure that today we are taking another small step towards the development of the Arctic areas and the Northern Sea Route," he said.

"We’ll begin mooring trials of the Arktika (the lead icebreaker of Project 22220 - ed.) early next year and the Sibir, respectively, with a year delay in early 2019," said Alexei Rakhmanov.
     
Video of the launch
     
The first follow-on Project 22220 nuclear icebreaker Sibir was laid down in May 2015 and its delivery is scheduled for 2020. Under a contract with Rosatomflot, the Baltic Shipyard is building three nuclear icebreakers of this project: the Arktika, the Sibir and the Urals. The detailed design of the nuclear-powered ships was developed by the Iceberg Central Design Bureau. The universal Project 22220 nuclear icebreakers are designed to independently escort vessels both in the Arctic and in shallow waters of the Yenisei River and Ob Bay, render assistance to vessels and carry out rescue operations in ice conditions and open water.

The Project 22220 nuclear-powered vessels will be equipped with a two RITM-200 nuclear reactors, with a thermal capacity of 175 MW each. They will become the biggest and most powerful nuclear icebreakers in the world.
     
Russia Launched the Second Project 22220 Nuclear Icebreaker Sibir 2Launch of Sibir, the second Project 22220 nuclear icebreaker
     
Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a greeting to the participants of the solemn event dedicated to the launching of the nuclear icebreaker Sibir (Siberia). The telegram was posted on the Kremlin website.

"I am convinced that this powerful icebreaker equipped with the most modern technologies will significantly enhance the Russian nuclear fleet’s capabilities, contribute to meeting important multifaceted challenges facing the country's economy, and strengthening Russia's position as a great maritime power," the report said.

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