Arktika-class icebreaker
The Arktika class is a Russian (formerly Soviet) class of nuclear-powered icebreakers. Also known by their Russian designations Project 10520 (first two ships) and Project 10521 (from third ship onwards), they were the world's largest and most powerful icebreakers until the 2016 launch of the first Project 22220 icebreaker, also named Arktika.
Arktika in November 1980 | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders | Baltic Shipyard |
| Operators | FSUE Atomflot |
| Succeeded by | Project 22220 icebreaker |
| Built | 1971–2007 |
| In service | 1975–present |
| Completed | 6 |
| Active | 2 |
| Retired | 4 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Icebreaker |
| Tonnage | 20-24,000 GT |
| Displacement | 23,000–25,168 tons |
| Length | 148 m (486 ft) |
| Beam | 30 m (98 ft) |
| Height | 17.2 m (56 ft) |
| Draught | 11 m (36 ft) |
| Installed power |
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| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 20.6 knots (38.2 km/h; 23.7 mph) (maximum) |
| Endurance | 7.5 months |
| Crew | 189 |
| Aircraft carried | 1 × Mi-2, Mi-8 or Ka-27 helicopter |
| Aviation facilities | Helipad and hangar for one helicopter |
Ships of the Arktika class are owned by the federal government, but were operated by the Murmansk Shipping Company (MSCO) until 2008, when they were transferred to the fully state-owned corporation Atomflot. Of the ten civilian nuclear-powered vessels built by Russia or the Soviet Union, six were of this type.
They are used for escorting merchant ships in the Arctic Ocean north of Siberia as well as for scientific and recreational expeditions to the Arctic.