In Russia, the fleet of large nuclear icebreakers of type 22220 is gradually increasing. The new nuclear-powered icebreaker named “Leningrad” is currently under construction at the facilities of the Baltic Shipyard in St. Petersburg. Main parts and components are slowly being procured, and now, the press service of the United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) report Two RITM-200 nuclear reactors are installed in Leningrad.
Image source: United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC).
According to the University of Southern California, the RITM-200 reactor can operate for seven years with one load of nuclear fuel. In this case, the ship’s autonomy no longer depends on the fuel supply, but on the endurance of the crew, the food supply on board and the availability of spare parts on board for emergency repairs at sea.
Let us recall that the Project 22220 icebreaker is designed to provide year-round navigation along the Northern Sea Route. As for the “Leningrad” nuclear icebreaker, this is the sixth ship of the project and will start construction in early 2024. According to the plan, the “Leningrad” will be put into operation in 2028.