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Viktor Chernomyrdin diesel electric icebreaker leaves for sea trials
Viktor Chernomyrdin diesel electric icebreaker, which is being built under order of FSUE “Rosmorport”, left for sea trials October 5, 2019. The sea trials coincide with the state ones. During 15-20 days, a trial crew of Admiralty Shipyards, JSC, crewmembers, the state commission and representatives of a customer will check the operation of all systems and mechanisms of the icebreaker, including main propulsion machinery, aids to navigation and communications systems, radar stations, as well as the vessel’s propulsive system.
The trials’ program includes maneuvering trials, including its U-turn, speed trials, as well as the assessment of resistance of icebreakers at full speed. The trial crew will get out boats in duty when the icebreaker moves at a speed of five knots. The crew will check manual and automatic control systems. The Viktor Chernomyrdin has been built under the Aut1 class of automatization when the vessel can be handled by one person – a captain in the absence of the support staff in the engine space. In order to check the operation of the vessel for 24 hours the crewmembers “will be free” of duty and the icebreaker will be handled only from the pilot bridge.
The icebreaker is equipped with two helicopter platforms, a hangar and a fuel keeping and filling facility. The helicopter providing for the trials will make day and night flights and landings. A radio beacon and communication between the icebreaker and the helicopter will be checked.
Pursuant to the terms of the state contract the vessel will run ice trials in the Arctic seas just after the icebreaker has been given to FSUE “Rosmorport” as the ice floe with the necessary thickness and strength sets up only in March-April 2020.
The Viktor Chernomyrdin is one of the world’s powerful diesel electric icebreakers. The vessel’s displacement is 22.3 tons and it is capable of building up the speed of about 17 knots from the top and overpass ices of up to three meters in thickness in the complete floe with the 20 cm fall of snow and with the speed of two knots at ahead and astern running. The icebreaker shows high maneuverability and it is equipped with the pneumoflushing system to prevent snow and ice bodies. The crew includes 38 people. The endurance lasts for 61 days.
The icebreaker is designed for icebreaker support and towing of vessels. It is cable of transporting and providing with scientific expeditions in the Artic and the Antarctic: up to 90 people are deployed on the vessel. There are special facilities and laboratories for placing scientific equipment. The icebreaker can play the role of a fire-fighting vessel.
