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Viktor Chernomyrdin icebreaker successfully completed the ice trail program

Viktor Chernomyrdin icebreaker successfully completed the ice trail program

The icebreaker Viktor Chernomyrdin has completed ice trails – the program has been implemented in full. According to the forward estimate of experts, the characteristics of the vessel's icebreaking capability have been confirmed.

Icebreaker Viktor Chernomyrdin proved its ability to move continuously in a continuous ice field up to 2 m thick, as well as perform icebreaking operations with ice thickness up to 3 m.

The ice trails were held in two stages. The ice fields between the Kamennye Islands and the mainland Russia became the testing ground for the first stage, the second stage was held in the area of Belukha Island. So far, the icebreaker has traveled about 1,000 nautical miles in ice conditions.

During the trails, the Viktor Chernomyrdin performed the following maneuvering elements: circulation, ahead and astern running at various modes and capacities of the power plant, star turning, and others. Due to the presence of hummocks with ice thickness of about 3 m at the second test site, the icebreaker was able to work out ramming icebreaking.

On May 11, a working meeting took place with representatives of the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (AARI), the Krylov State Research Center (KSRC) and JSC “Admiralty Shipyards” to summarize the preliminary results of ice trails. At the end of the expedition, work will continue on the detailed processing of the collected information and the preparation of reports.


Reference:

Maximum performance during ice trails:

Cohesion of drifting ice: up to 10 points
Thickness of hummocks: up to 3 m
Thickness of dense snow cover:  up to 70 cm
Wind: up to 17 m/s
Wafts: up to 25 m/s