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With its 25 MW capacity, the new icebreaker is the most powerful non-nuclear icebreaker in the world. But the Arctic will not have its main operational area yet.
The ship named after the late Russian prime minister will serve in the Gulf of Finland and the Baltic Sea, informs the country’s United Shipbuilding Corporation.
According to shipbuilders, the 147-meter-long ship capable of breaking ice up to two meters thick is destined for the Gulf of Finland. But it can also work in the Arctic and Antarctic, adds the Corporation.
The flag was hoisted on the ship during a ceremony in St. Petersburg on December 3. On the spot was President Putin who in a statement stressed that Viktor Chernomyrdin can also be applied on the North Sea route.
In his speech, Putin stressed that Russia must maintain the pressure in its Arctic development.
“Our leadership [in the Arctic] it must be constantly, every day, reaffirmed and our positions expanded, strengthened and the fleet renewed with new cutting-edge technologies on building icebreakers and other ice-class ships, “the President said at the ceremony.
Viktor Chernomyrdin will be operated by the state-owned Rosmorport port company. It is built by Baltic Yard and Admiralty Yard in St. Petersburg.
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Construction began in 2012 and was initially supposed to be completed in 2015.
The 29-meter-wide and 147-meter-long ship is reportedly capable of breaking two-meter thick ice and autonomously staying at sea for up to 60 days. It is the only ship built with Project 22600 (LK-25).
Construction was marred by numerous technical problems and delays, as well as cost overruns.
Sources from the Russian shipbuilding industry in 2019 said the total construction cost will exceed 12 billion rubles (139 million euros), compared to the original budget of 7.95 billion (92 million euros).
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