Pilots of the Murmansk Branch Nikolai Zelenkov, Dmitry Chernushkin and Ivan Ordin have carried out the unique pilotage of the Akademik Lomonosov floating power unit.

The world’s first floating non-self-propelled nuclear thermal electric station arrived in the seaport of Murmansk from the seaport of Big Port St Petersburg with the aid of the UMKA sea tug accompanied by the sea tugs Spasatel Karev and Yasny.

Pilots of the Murmansk Branch carried out pilotage of the tug convoy from a pilot’s embarkation site in the seaport of Murmansk to the area of an anchoring station. The distance of pilotage is about 14 nautical miles. Pilotage has been complicated by the squally wind with the speed of 15-17 meters per second. However, professionalism of pilots of the Murmansk Branch helped carry out safe pilotage within the shortest time period.

By using the port’s tugs, the floating power unit had been towed off from the anchoring station to the berth in the seaport of Murmansk where it will be re-equipped, including by nuclear fuel, after it is finally launched.

When the floating power unit is ready for operation, it will be transported along the Northern Sea Route to its haling port in Pevek. The Akademik Lomonosov floating nuclear thermal power station is expected to be put into operation in 2019.