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Last White Sea voyage for "Rossiya"

Soon-pensioner "Rossia" nuclear icebreaker is on its way to Murmansk. Photo: Thomas Nilsen

The 30 years old twin-reactor powered icebreaker is to be out of operation by the end of this year.

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The “Rossiya” nuclear icebreaker is on its way to Murmansk after finishing its last ever 90 days long work in the Gulf of Finland.

“The trip back to Murmansk will take 6-7 days; it depends on the weather conditions. In the Murmansk port the icebreaker is to be inspected by the Russian register of shipping. Then the nuclear ship is expected work in the White Sea till the middle of May”, - press officer of Atomflot told BarentsObserver.

The nuclear reactor energy resource of the almost 30 years old icebreaker is almost finished, and the “Atomflot” company of Rosatom State Corporation has no plans to extend it.

The modern Russian nuclear icebreaker fleet still consists of four 2-reactor icebreakers, “Sovetskiy Soyuz”, “50 years of Victory”, “Yamal”, and the soon-pensioner “Rossiya”, and two 1-reactor “Taimyr” and Vaygach”. The first nuclear power icebreaker “Lenin” as well as “Sibir” and “Arctica” are out of operation.

“Atomflot” is expecting three new nuclear icebreakers. Construction of the first one started last year. Three new ships are expected by 2027.