The ice has broken: construction of a new nuclear icebreaker Stalingrad has begun in Russia

The new heavy-duty nuclear icebreaker Stalingrad began to be built at the Baltic Shipyard in St. Petersburg. Vladimir Putin took part in the solemn ceremony of its laying on November 18 via video link. The Stalingrad will become the sixth production ship of Project 22220, which is designed to guide ships in the Arctic and develop the Northern Sea Route. Russia remains the only country in the world capable of mass-producing nuclear icebreakers, the president recalled. The icebreakers Siberia, Yakutia and Ural are already successfully operating in the Arctic. Among the key priorities in the region, the head of the Russian Federation noted the development of the Transarctic transport corridor from St. Petersburg to Vladivostok. How the volume of traffic along the Northern Sea Route will change by 2030 and who became the main guest of the ceremony is in the Izvestia article.

Start construction of the nuclear icebreaker Stalingrad

On November 18, construction of the new heavy-duty nuclear icebreaker Stalingrad was launched at the Baltic Shipyard in St. Petersburg. The name was chosen for a reason: it was timed to coincide with the 83rd anniversary of the beginning of the Soviet counteroffensive at Stalingrad. Vladimir Putin also took part in the event, and called it a significant event.

— I am sure that the new icebreaker Stalingrad will worthily bear this proud name. Working in the harsh conditions of the Arctic, paving the way through the ice, will become another symbol of the talent, strength, creative energy of our people, their ability to set themselves and realize the most daring plans, to stand up in the most difficult times," the president said.

Pavel Vinokurov, a veteran of the Great Patriotic War and a participant in the Battle of Stalingrad, during the ceremony of the start of construction of the Russian serial universal nuclear icebreaker Stalingrad Project 22220 at the Baltic Shipyard

Photo: TASS/Valentin Egorshin

Pavel Vinokurov, a veteran who fought in the Battle of Stalingrad, who will turn 103 in November, was among the guests at the laying ceremony of the nuclear icebreaker. In August 1941, after his third year, he was drafted into the Red Army, and in March 1942 he was sent to the front near Stalingrad as a platoon commander of anti-tank guns of the 22nd Fighter Regiment. On August 15, 1942, he was seriously wounded. The veteran handed over to Rosatom CEO Alexei Likhachev a capsule with earth from Mamayev Kurgan, which will be stored on the icebreaker. Vladimir Putin thanked the veteran of the Battle of Stalingrad for participating in the ceremony and noted that the veterans not only defended their homeland, but also did everything to revive it in the post-war years.

— We fought so that you, your children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren would always have a cloudless, calm sky above your head. And today, looking at the powerful equipment and guys who ensure the implementation of a special military operation, I see that the spirit of our people is not broken. I want to thank you for keeping the memory of the Great Patriotic War alive and those who died in the war alive. May this nuclear icebreaker also steadily and courageously pave the way in the Arctic Ocean. Keep the course and remember: Russia is behind you," Pavel Vinokurov said.

The icebreaker Stalingrad became the sixth production ship in the project 22220. The first four — the lead icebreaker Arktika and three production vessels Sibir, Ural, and Yakutia — are already on duty in Arctic waters. The construction of two icebreakers of this series — "Chukotka" and "Leningrad" — continues. Vladimir Putin expressed confidence that the work on their construction will proceed in accordance with the deadlines.

The ceremony of the start of construction of the Russian serial universal nuclear icebreaker "Stalingrad" project 22220 at the Baltic Shipyard

Photo: TASS/Valentin Egorshin

The President ordered the construction of such universal nuclear icebreakers back in 2010 to ensure safe navigation conditions for large-tonnage transport vessels along the Northern Sea Route. The ships of project 22220 have a length of 173.3 m and can overcome ice up to three meters thick. The estimated service life is 40 years, and they can work for up to 7 years without recharging.

These are now the largest and most powerful icebreakers in the world, and their main task is to ensure year—round navigation in the western Arctic. This is a long-awaited event for Russia, as it will lead to a significant increase in cargo turnover along the Northern Sea Route: now it is almost 40 million tons per year, but significant growth is already predicted, said Alexander Spiridonov, deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on Industry and Trade.

— The icebreakers that work on the routes of the Northern Sea Route are performing very well. This is such a workhorse in our Arctic. In the whole world, only Russia currently has a nuclear icebreaking fleet and remains the leading party in these technologies. First of all, these are nuclear energy transportation technologies. These are technologies directly related to structural materials, and issues related to the design of icebreaker hulls, since they operate in the harshest conditions of the Arctic and must be extremely reliable," he told Izvestia.

According to Rosatom estimates, the icebreakers of the 22220 project will contribute to an increase in traffic on the routes of the Northern Sea Route: by 2030, it is planned to increase traffic volumes to about 110 million tons per year.

Photo: TASS/Valentin Egorshin

— The laying of the new icebreaker of the 22220 Stalingrad series is certainly an anticipated event. The expansion and modernization of the icebreaker fleet is a strategic priority for Russian Arctic and maritime policy for the entire 21st century. Especially in light of the plans for the development of the Northern Sea Route and the development of the Transarctic Transport Corridor. "Stalingrad will not only strengthen the existing icebreaking group, but also replace aging vessels," Nikita Lipunov, a junior researcher at MGIMO, told Izvestia.

What is the uniqueness of the Russian icebreaking fleet?

Today, Russia remains the only country in the world capable of mass-producing powerful, reliable nuclear icebreakers, the head of state noted. And what is important is based on our own technologies. Currently, the Russian icebreaking fleet includes 34 diesel-powered and eight nuclear-powered icebreakers. Russia intends to continue, despite all the challenges, to increase the capabilities of the icebreaking fleet, develop domestic shipbuilding, and create breakthrough scientific and technological groundwork, Vladimir Putin said. All plans for the development of the nuclear icebreaking fleet of the Russian Federation will be fulfilled, he promised.

— The tasks before us are, without exaggeration, historical. It is important to consistently strengthen Russia's position in the Arctic, fully realize the logistical potential of our country, and ensure the development of a promising Transarctic transport corridor from St. Petersburg to Vladivostok," the president added.

Russian President Vladimir Putin in videoconference mode during the ceremony of the start of construction of the Russian serial universal nuclear icebreaker Stalingrad

Photo: TASS/Gavriil Grigorov

Rosatom is ready to strengthen Russia's strength and power by ensuring its security, as well as developing peaceful nuclear technologies that guarantee Russia's leadership in the Arctic region, said Alexey Likhachev, CEO of the state corporation. Such a large number of icebreakers have never been built at the same time, even in the "fattest" Soviet times, he recalled. This is confirmed by the United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC).

— Today we have reached unprecedented levels. The laying of this icebreaker, the Stalingrad, leads to the construction of the largest series of seven icebreakers in the history of our country and the history of the world. We have started rhythmic work and significantly reduced the construction period of nuclear icebreakers from 7 to 5 years," said Andrey Puchkov, head of the USC.

Thanks to the active modernization of the Russian icebreaking fleet, year-round navigation in the western sector of the Northern Sea Route has been carried out since last year. In the eastern sector, this is still only in the plans, since the ice conditions there are much more severe, Nikita Lipunov emphasized.