Rosatom and Baltiysky Zavod JSC signed a contract for the construction of a unique vessel - a multifunctional nuclear and technological service ship, Rosatomflot (a company of Rosatom) and Baltiysky Zavod JSC (a company of the United Shipbuilding Corporation).
According to the decree of the Government of the Russian Federation, Baltiysky Zavod JSC is the sole government contractor for the construction of a multifunctional nuclear and technological service ship. It is designed to carry out a full range of refueling operations at nuclear power plants installed onboard the existing nuclear icebreakers, as well as onboard the Akademik Lomonosov FNPP (and, in the future, modernized floating power plants).
The contract was signed by Leonid Irlitsa, acting Director General of Atomflot, and Yuri Gordienkov, CEO of Baltiysky Zavod JSC.
“The multifunctional nuclear and technological service ship will ensure the proper operation of the modern icebreaking group. Its construction is supposed to be financed according to the following scheme: 50% of funds will be provided from the budget of the Russian Federation, and 50% from Rosatom’s investment program. The construction is planned in accordance with the Northern Sea Route Development Plan for the period up to 2035, approved by the order of the Government of the Russian Federation, the scheduled completion date is 2029," emphasized Viktor Evtukhov, State Secretary – Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation.
“Now the Imandra floating technical base refuels the reactors installed onboard the nuclear icebreakers of previous generations,” said Leonid Irlitsa, acting Director General of Atomflot. This vessel was commissioned in 1980. We are moving forward. Three universal nuclear-powered icebreakers 22220 operate in the waters of the Northern Sea Route. The multifunctional nuclear and technological service ship is required to fulfil new tasks. The ship will refuel reactors installed onboard Project 22220 nuclear-powered ships.”
“Transition to service life contracts is a modern trend in many industries. Therefore, when building nuclear icebreakers today, it is necessary to think about their efficient and economical maintenance in 10, 20, 30 years. Starting to build a multifunctional nuclear and technological service vessel, we intend to ensure long and safe operation of nuclear-powered icebreakers, floating nuclear power plants and, in general, the entire Atomflot,” said Alexei Rakhmanov, General Director of the United Shipbuilding Corporation.
The comprehensive development of the Russian Arctic is a national strategic priority. To increase the NSR traffic is of paramount importance for the fulfilment of the tasks set in the field of cargo shipping and delivery. The development of this logistics corridor is ensured with the organization of regular cargo shipping, construction of new nuclear-powered icebreakers and modernization of the relevant infrastructure. Rosatom companies take an active part in this work.
Background
Project 22770 was developed by Iceberg Central Design Bureau, JSC. The multifunctional nuclear and technological service ship is designed to carry out the main technological operations including unloading of spent nuclear fuel from the reactors installed onboard the ships being serviced; loading of fresh nuclear fuel; unloading, storage and shipment of liquid radioactive wastes generated by ship reactors, as well as those generated during refueling; soaking of spent fuel assemblies in order to reduce residual heat release. The ship can also load aged spent fuel assemblies into shipping containers for their further transportation for reprocessing; decontamination of removable equipment of ship reactors and refueling equipment.
Design characteristics of the multifunctional nuclear and technological service ship: length - 158.8 meters, width - 26 meters; draft - 7.5 meters; shaft power of the propulsion plant - 9.28 MW; displacement - 22,661 tons; speed - 12 knots; ice class - Arc5.