Icebreaker "Moscow" 1960: photo, analogues

Sailors of the Soviet Arctic fleet were waiting for the appearance of powerful icebreakers for a long time. Their absence limited the time of work and transportation only in the summer. Icebreaker "Moscow" allowed to increase this time until November, thereby expanding the terms of Arctic navigation. The vessel allowed not to wait for more mercy from the weather. What was the icebreaker of 1960? What kind of modern analogue did he have? What is the purpose of the icebreaker in modern times? All this can be learned from the article.

History of creation

The icebreaker "Moscow" was launched for the first time in 1960. It was built on the territory of Finland ("Wärtsilä" shipyard). The customer was the Soviet Union. In other years, similar ships were launched, which were named "Leningrad", "Kiev", "Murmansk", "Vladivostok".

They were created as the most powerful diesel-electric icebreakers, although in the process of operation they still showed some shortcomings. For example, breakage of propellers.

The design of 1960

Icebreaker "Moscow" included the following devices:

• Three screws;
• Three continuous decks;
• An extended tank;
• Ten watertight compartments separated by transverse bulkheads;
• Double bottom with ballast and fresh water, fuel, lubricating oil;
• Special premises intended for storage of provisions;
• Landing pad for the helicopter.

The hull of the vessel is made of welded Siemens-open-hearth steel, the rudder is made of cast steel. Residential premises are designed for 126 people, to which 26 additional seats have been added. They carried out water heating. In non-residential premises, heating is steam and electric. In addition, ventilation was carried out in all types of rooms.

Characteristics of the ship:

• Length - 122 meters 10 centimeters;
• Width - 24 meters 50 centimeters;
• Height (on the main deck) - 115 meters;
• Sediment (maximum) - 10 meters 50 centimeters;
• Speed (clean water) - 19.3 knots.

Icebreaker "Moscow" in 1960 has an engine in the form of eight diesels. They set in motion generators feeding three propulsion motors.

Purpose

The icebreaker "Moscow", like its counterparts, regularly participates in arctic navigation in the summer. All of them work on the route of the Northern Sea Route. In the winter, spend year-round navigation in the port area of Leningrad and Nagaevo, that is, they are used almost all year.

In 1961, the crew of the vessel was instructed to undergo an unusual flight. The task was to pass through the Northern Sea Route in the west-east direction in the second half of October. This was to reveal navigational possibilities of navigation in the autumn time.

The icebreaker sailed during the period from October 18 to October 28, 1961. All the way along the route took ten days. The success of the voyage showed the extent to which navigation in the Arctic waters had expanded. This meant that by the end of October there could be a transit ship along the route, not just one icebreaker.

Project 21900

The new icebreaker "Moscow", a photo of which is presented below, was built by the order of "Rosmorport". Production was entrusted at the end of 2004 to the Baltic Shipyard for two ships under a general project of 21900. The main in this series was the icebreaker "Moscow" 21900, and the second - the icebreaker "St. Petersburg". The total amount of the contract was five billion rubles.

Chronology of the icebreaker:

• 2004 - the victory of the Baltic plant in the competition for the production of the project 21900.
• 2005 - the beginning of works on creation of the main vessel.
• 2006 - sea trials conducted in the Gulf of Finland.
• 2008 - transfer of the vessel to the customer "Rosmorport" and solemn lifting of the flag of the Russian Federation.
• 2014 - participation in the icebreakers festival in St. Petersburg.

The main icebreaker of Project 21900 is a two-deck vessel with two rotor columns. The hull was created with an ice thickness of more than one meter.

Characteristics of the ship:

• Capacity (gross) - 9,491 tons;
• Length - 114 meters;
• Width - 28 meters 2 centimeters;
• Height (on board) - 12 meters 40 centimeters;
• Sediment - 8 meters 50 centimeters;
• Speed (clean water) - 10 knots;
• The crew capacity is 26 people.

As in the 1960 type, a helicopter pad was created on board.

Project purpose 21900

The creation of an icebreaker was required to navigate in the Arctic waters. However, modern capabilities also imply other additional capabilities for ships of this type.

The main purpose:

• Wiring of large-capacity tankers (width up to 50 meters);
• Towing ships in ice and water;
• Cargo transportation;
• Performance of rescue operations;
• Control of oil spills and chemicals in the sea;
• Extinguishing fires.

In order for the icebreaker to be repaid in the shortest possible time, it was created in such a way that it could be used in the summer. The icebreaker is capable of servicing oil and gas fields and coastal terminals. This proves its increased effectiveness.

Interesting fact: for the past more than 30 years this is the first diesel-electric icebreaker produced at the enterprise of Russia. Before that, the state ordered similar ships abroad.