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Yard delays delivery of icebreaker

The Rosmorport from before operated the "Kapitan Dranitsyn", a vessel based in Murmansk.

Russia’s leading icebreaker yard, the Baltiysky Zavod, is more than two years behind schedule in the contruction of the country’s new generation diesel-engined icebreakers.

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The first vessel of Russia’s new generation of diesel-engined icebreakers was originally to be ready for operations by late 2015. However, the yard now confirms that the ship will be 24-28 months delayed.

The reason is reportedly a failure by the ship design bureau Iceberg to meet the requirements of the yard. The Baltiysky Zavod has consequently hired a new design company, RBC.ru reports. The yard has also cancelled its contract with the Nordic Yards on the construction of the icebreaker topside.

The LK-25 icebreaker will be the biggest and most powerful of Russia’s diesel-engined icebreakers. It will be 146,8 meters long and have a deadweight of 22258 tons. It will have a crew of 38 and will be able to operate autonomously for 60 days in up to two meters thick ice.

The price tag for the vessel is about €8 billion roubles. It is built for the Russian state company Rosmorport.

The Baltiysky Zavod also has contracts on the construction of the LK-60, the new nuclear-powered icebreaker, which is to be ready for sailing in 2017.