View source for Nuclear-powered icebreaker

{{Short description|Type of ship}}
[[File:Yamal icebreaker (2225309).jpg|thumb|300px|Nuclear icebreaker [[Yamal (icebreaker)|''Yamal'']], 2015]]

A '''nuclear-powered icebreaker''' is an [[icebreaker]] with an [[Nuclear marine propulsion|onboard nuclear power plant]] that produces power for the vessel's propulsion system. Although more expensive to operate, nuclear-powered icebreakers provide a number of advantages over their diesel-powered counterparts, especially along the [[Northern Sea Route]] where diesel-powered icebreaker operations are challenging due to the heavy power demand associated with icebreaking, limited refueling infrastructure along the Siberian coast, and the endurance required. {{asof|2025}}, Russia is the only country that builds and operates nuclear-powered icebreakers, having built a number of such vessels to aid shipping along the Northern Sea Route and Russian arctic outposts since the Soviet era.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Henderson |first=Isaiah |date=July 18, 2019 |title=Cold Ambition: The New Geopolitical Faultline |work=The California Review |url=https://calrev.org/2019/07/18/cold-ambition-the-new-geopolitical-faultline/?v=7516fd43adaa |access-date=July 18, 2019}}</ref>

== History of nuclear-powered icebreakers ==
[[File:2009. Марка России stamp hi12617797044b353af8def56.jpg|thumb|Nuclear-powered icebreaker ''Lenin'']]
The first nuclear icebreaker was the Soviet vessel ''[[Lenin (1957 icebreaker)|Lenin]]'', which was launched in 1957 as the world’s first nuclear-powered surface vessel and the first civilian-operated nuclear vessel.<ref>"Soviet Life". ''[[Soviet Life]]''. '''2''' (149): 57. February 1969.</ref> An experimental nuclear-powered vessel, ''Lenin'' began icebreaking service along the Northern Sea Route in 1959 and continued to do so until 1989.<ref>Paine, Lincoln P (1997). ''Ships of the World''. Houghton-Mifflin. pp. 298. {{ISBN|0-395-71556-3}}. {{LCCN|9712872}}.</ref> From 1967 to 1971 ''Lenin'' was refurbished, with new capabilities developed in the process.<ref>{{cite web|last = Кузнецов |first = Александр |date=March 22, 2021 |title=Три жизни «Ленина»: история первого в мире атомного ледокола|url = https://strana-rosatom.ru/2021/03/22/tri-zhizni-atomnogo-ledokola-lenina/}}</ref> 

The second-generation nuclear-powered icebreakers, [[Arktika-class icebreaker|''Arktika'' class]] (Project 10520 and 10521), utilized an improved reactor design and turbo-electric propulsion train to deliver significantly improved icebreaking performance, allowing the vessels to provide year-round icebreaking service along the Northern Sea Route and conduct voyages into the Arctic Ocean.{{citation-needed|date=July 2023}}

As natural gas exploration increased along the Siberian coast, the Murmansk Shipping Company (MSCO) found that the existing ''Arktika''-class were challenging to operate within the shallow coastal deltas. To fill this capability gap, they ordered two slightly smaller shallow-draught icebreakers from [[Wärtsilä Marine]] [[Hietalahti shipyard|Helsinki Shipyard]] in [[Finland]] and installed their nuclear powerplants at Baltic Shipbuilding in Leningrad (today St. Petersburg).{{citation-needed|date=July 2023}}

In the late 1980s, the Central Design Bureau "Iceberg" began designing a replacement for the ''Arktika-'' and ''Taymyr'' classes. The program called for a series of icebreaker designs ranging from smaller diesel-powered auxiliary icebreakers to two nuclear-powered icebreaker types, 60-megawatt "line icebreaker" (LK-60Ya) and 110-megawatt "icebreaker-leader" (LK-110Ya).<ref>Tsoy, L.G. (1994), "New generation Arktika class nuclear icebreaker feasibility study", ''Proceedings of the Fifth International Conference on Ships and Marine Structures in Cold Regions, 1994 (ICETECH'95)'', pp. P1–P8</ref>
[[File:Санкт-Петербург, ледокол Урал у причала Балтзавода сверху (cropped).jpg|thumb|Project 22220 icebreaker ''Ural'' under construction]]
The LK-60Ya was realized as [[Project 22220 icebreaker|Project 22220]], the first of which was laid down in 2013 and commissioned in 2020. Although similar in size and propulsion power to the preceding ''Arktika''-class, Project 22220 is a dual-draft vessel capable of operating at {{convert|2|m|ft}} shallower draft, allowing it to perform roles of both ''Arktika''- and ''Taymyr'' classes.<ref>"Испытание Дудинкой. «Сибирь» поборола лишний вес" (in Russian). Fontanka.ru. 2 February 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2022.</ref> The first LK-110Ya-type icebreaker, realized as [[Project 10510 icebreaker|Project 10510]], was laid down in 2021. When completed, the lead vessel ''Rossiya'' will be the largest nuclear icebreaker in the world.<ref>Manaranche, Martin (2020-05-04)."Russia Signs Contract to Build World's Largest Nuclear-Powered Icebreaker". Naval News. Retrieved 2021-12-23.</ref>

Although Russia has historically been the only country to build and operate nuclear-powered icebreakers, several other countries have expressed interest in doing so. In 2019, China announced plans that it would build a nuclear-powered icebreaker similar to the Russian Project 22220.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nilsen |first=Thomas |date=March 21, 2019 |title=Details of China's nuclear-powered icebreaker revealed |url=https://thebarentsobserver.com/en/arctic/2019/03/details-chinas-nuclear-powered-icebreaker-revealed |website=The Barents Observer}}</ref> {{asof|2025}}, construction on this proposed nuclear icebreaker has not commenced.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Eiterjord |first=Trym |date=February 13, 2023 |title=Checking Back in on China's Nuclear Icebreaker |url=https://thediplomat.com/2023/02/checking-back-in-on-chinas-nuclear-icebreaker/ |website=The Diplomat}}</ref>

== Use of nuclear-powered icebreakers ==

=== Commercial icebreaking ===
[[File:Russian Nuclear Icebreaker Arktika.jpg|thumb|right|The 1975-built {{ship||Arktika|1972 icebreaker|2}}, the first surface ship to reach the [[North Pole]], during a 2006 cruise]]
The Northern Sea Route runs along the Siberian coast from the principal ports of Murmansk to Petropavlovsk and Vladivostok. The route includes sections of the Barents Sea, the [[Pechora Sea]], the [[Kara Sea]], the [[Laptev Sea]], and the [[Eastern Siberian Sea]] to the [[Bering Strait]]. It provides the only feasible means to deliver heavy equipment, such as natural gas production modules or military vehicles, to communities along the Siberian coast and the Russian Arctic islands. Key ports served along the Siberian coast are [[Dikson (urban-type settlement)|Dikson]], [[Tiksi]], [[Pevek]], and the Yamal Peninsula.{{citation-needed|date=June 2023}}

During the [[winter]], the ice along the Northern Sea Route varies in thickness from {{convert|1.2|to|2.0|m|ft}}. The ice in central parts of the [[Arctic Ocean]] is on average {{convert|2.5|m|ft}} thick. Nuclear-powered icebreakers can force through this ice at speeds up to {{convert|3|knots}}. In ice-free waters, the maximum speed of the nuclear-powered icebreakers is as much as {{convert|22|knots}}.{{citation-needed|date=June 2023}}

Two types of nuclear-powered icebreakers are used along the Northern Sea Route: the heavy ''Arktika''-class and shallow draft ''Taymyr''-class.{{update-inline|date=July 2023}} With a draft of {{convert|11|m|ft}} the ''Arktika''-class vessels are unable to navigate the shallow river deltas leading to several key Siberian ports. The smaller ''Taymyr''-class provides icebreaking service in these regions, particularly the [[Yenisei River]] to Dikson.{{citation-needed|date=June 2023}}

=== Scientific exploration ===
The icebreakers have also been used for a number of scientific expeditions in the Arctic. On August 17, 1977, {{ship||Arktika|1972 icebreaker|2}} was the first surface vessel in the world to reach the [[North Pole]].

=== Arctic tourism ===
[[Image:Icebreakeryamal.jpg|thumb|right|250px|''Yamal'', August 2001]]
Since 1989 the ''Arktika''-class nuclear-powered icebreakers have also been used to ferry tourists to the North Pole. Each participant pays up to US$25,000 for a cruise lasting three weeks. ''Sibir'' was used for the first two tourist cruises in 1989 and 1990. In 1991 and 1992, the tourist trips to the North Pole were undertaken by ''Sovetskiy Soyuz''. During the summer of 1993, ''Yamal'' was used for three tourist expeditions in the Arctic. The last two vessel of the ''Arktika''-class (''Yamal'' and ''50 Let Pobedy'') contain a separate accommodation section for tourists.

Quark Expeditions chartered ''50 Let Pobedy'' for expeditions to the North Pole in 2008. The vessel's maiden voyage to the North Pole embarked in Murmansk, on June 24, 2008. The ship carried 128 guests in 64 cabins in five categories. ''50 Let Pobedy'' completed a total of three expeditions to the North Pole in 2008 for the polar adventure company.<ref>{{cite web |title=50 Years of Victory – the largest nuclear-powered icebreaker in the world |url=http://www.quarkexpeditions.com/our-ships/50-years-of-victory |access-date=2013-07-26 |publisher=Quark Expeditions}}</ref> and offering it for a North Pole cruise.<ref>{{cite web |title=North Pole Cruise: The Ultimate Arctic Adventure, 2013 |url=http://www.quarkexpeditions.com/arctic-expeditions/north-pole-cruise-ultimate-arctic-adventure/overview |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101224064351/http://www.quarkexpeditions.com/arctic-expeditions/north-pole-cruise-ultimate-arctic-adventure/overview |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 24, 2010 |access-date=2013-07-26 |publisher=Quark Expeditions }}</ref>

== Nuclear-powered icebreaker classes ==

=== Russian nuclear-powered icebreaker fleet ===
Russia's nuclear-powered icebreaking fleet is owned by the federal government. Initially, the icebreakers were operated by the Murmansk Shipping Company (MSCO); however, in 2008 they were transferred to the state-owned corporation [[Rosatom]] and operated by the subsidiary [[FSUE Atomflot|Atomflot]].<ref>Henderson, Isaiah (July 18, 2019). "Cold Ambition: The New Geopolitical Faultline". ''The California Review''. Retrieved July 18, 2019</ref> Rosatom is also responsible for the safe navigation of vessels along the Northern Sea Route.<ref>Путин назначил «Росатом» инфраструктурным оператором Северного морского пути = Rosatom as the infrastructure operator of the Northern Sea Route // Коммерсантъ (28 декабря 2018). Дата обращения: 27 июля 2019. Архивировано 27 июля 2019 года.</ref>

==== Icebreakers ====
[[File:Почтовая марка Атомный ледокол "Арктика".jpg|thumb|Lead ship of the Project ''22220 Arktika-''class'', Arktika'']]
* [[Lenin (1957 icebreaker)|''Lenin'']]: an experimental 16,000 tonne, 134 meter long icebreaker commissioned in 1957.<ref>"'''Soviet Li'''fe". ''[[Soviet Life]]''. '''2''' (149): 57. February 1969.</ref>  The Lenin was initially powered by three OK-150 (90{{nbsp}}MWt) nuclear reactors, which were replaced with two OK-900 (171{{nbsp}}MWt) reactors in 1971.<ref name=":0" /> ''Lenin'' was decommissioned in 1989 and has since been converted to a museum ship in its former homeport of Murmansk.<ref>"''Lenin'' (Ship)". Britannica. Retrieved 2020-05-28.</ref>
* [[Arktika-class icebreaker|''Arktika'' class]] (Project 10520 and 10521): six 24,000 tonne, 148 meter long heavy icebreakers commissioned from 1977 to 2007.<ref>Tsoy, L.G.; Stoyanov, I.A.; Mikhailichenko, V.V.; Livshits, S.G. (1995), "Perspective types of Arctic icebreakers and their principal characteristics" (PDF), ''Proceedings of the 13th International Conference on Port and Ocean Engineering under Arctic Conditions, 1995 (POAC'95)'', vol. 1, pp. 13–26</ref> The ''Arktika''-class icebreakers are powered by two OK-900A (171{{nbsp}}MWt) nuclear reactors with turbo-electric propulsion driving three propellers.<ref name=":0">Reistad, Ole; Ølgaard, Povl L (April 2006). Russian Nuclear Power Plants for Marine Applications (PDF) (Report). Nordic Nuclear Safety Research (nks.org). {{ISBN|87-7893-200-9}}. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-04-17. Retrieved 2023-06-18.</ref> Only two of the initial six vessels remain in active service.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Crowded at Russia's port for Arctic nuclear vessels |url=https://thebarentsobserver.com/en/industry-and-energy/2017/11/russias-arctic-port-civilian-nuclear-vessels-cramped-over-capacity |access-date=2023-06-18 |website=The Independent Barents Observer |date=22 November 2017 |language=en}}</ref>
* {{anchor|Taymyr class}}[[Taymyr (1987 icebreaker)|''Taymyr'']] class (Project 10580): two 20,800 tonne, 152 meter long shallow draft icebreakers commissioned from 1987 to 1989. The ''Taymyr-''class is powered by one KLT-40M nuclear reactor (171{{nbsp}}MWt) with turbo-electric propulsion driving three propellers.<ref name=":0" />
* [[Project 22220 icebreaker|Project 22220]]: 33,000 tonne, 173 meter long heavy icebreakers currently under construction at Baltic Shipyard which will replace the previous ''Arktika''- and ''Taymyr''-classes. {{asof|2025|2}}, four vessels have been completed and an additional three are under construction or planned. Project 22220 icebreakers are powered by two RITM-200 (175{{nbsp}}MWt) nuclear reactors with turbo-electric propulsion driving three propellers.<ref name=":0" />
* [[Project 10510 icebreaker|Project 10510]]: a 69,700 tonne, 209 meter long heavy icebreakers currently under construction at Zvezda Shipyard to augment Project 22220. {{asof|2025|2}}, one hull is under construction. The vessel will be powered by two RITM-400 nuclear reactors (315{{nbsp}}MWt) with turbo-electric propulsion driving four propellers.<ref>Реакторная установка для атомохода Лидер. Какой она будет? = Reactor plant for the nuclear-powered “Leader”. What will it be like? Дата обращения: 29 октября 2021. Архивировано 29 октября 2021 года.</ref>
[[File:Vaygach icebreaker (2225317).jpg|thumb|Shallow-draught icebreaker ''Vaygach''.]]

==== Ice-strengthened cargo ship ====

* ''[[Sevmorput]]'': a 61,900 tonne, 260 meter long ice-strengthened LASH cargo ship commissioned in 1988. The ''Sevmorput'' is powered by one KLT-40 (135{{nbsp}}MWt) nuclear reactor and a steam turbine-driven controllable pitch propeller.<ref name=":0" />

== List of nuclear-powered icebreakers ==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Ship name !! In service !! Status !! Project number !! Class !! Comments
|- style="background:#FFFFFF;" 
| [[Lenin (1957 icebreaker)|''Lenin'']] || 1959–1989 || Decommissioned ||  92 || — ||Converted to museum ship in Murmansk
|- style="background:#FFFFFF;" 
| [[Arktika (1972 icebreaker)|''Arktika'']] || 1975–2008 || Decommissioned || 10520 || [[Arktika-class icebreaker|''Arktika'']] ||  Reactors removed; awaiting scrapping<ref name=":1" />
|- style="background:#FFFFFF;" 
| [[Sibir (1977 icebreaker)|''Sibir'']] || 1977–1992 || Decommissioned|| 10520 || ''Arktika'' || Reactors removed; awaiting scrapping<ref name=":1" />
|- style="background:#FFFFFF;" 
| [[Rossiya (1983 icebreaker)|''Rossiya'']] || 1985–2013 || Decommissioned || 10521 || ''Arktika'' || Awaiting scrapping<ref name=":1" />
|-
| [[Taymyr (1987 icebreaker)|''Taymyr'']] || 1989–present || In service || 10580 || [[Taymyr-class icebreaker|''Taymyr'']] ||
|- style="background:#FFFFFF;" 
| [[Sovetskiy Soyuz (icebreaker)|''Sovetskiy Soyuz'']] || 1990–2014 || Decommissioned || 10521 || ''Arktika'' || Awaiting scrapping<ref name=":1" />
|-
| [[Vaygach (1989 icebreaker)|''Vaygach'']] || 1990–present || In service || 10580 || ''Taymyr'' ||
|-
| [[Yamal (icebreaker)|''Yamal'']] || 1993–present || In service ||  10521 || ''Arktika'' ||
|-
| ''[[50 Let Pobedy]]'' || 2007–present || In service ||  10521 || ''Arktika'' || Launched as ''Ural''
|-
|''[[Arktika (2016 icebreaker)|Arktika]]'' || 2020–present || In service ||  22220 || [[Project 22220 icebreaker|Project 22220]] ||
|-
|''[[Sibir (2017 icebreaker)|Sibir]]'' || 2021–present || In service ||  22220 || Project 22220 ||
|-
|''[[Ural (icebreaker)|Ural]]'' || 2022–present || In service ||  22220 || Project 22220 ||
|-
|''[[Yakutiya (icebreaker)|Yakutiya]]'' || 2024–present || In service || 22220 || Project 22220 || 
|- style="background:#FFFFFF;" 
|''[[Chukotka (icebreaker)|Chukotka]]'' || 2026 (planned) || Under construction || 22220 || Project 22220 || 
|- style="background:#FFFFFF;" 
|''[[Leningrad (2028 icebreaker)|Leningrad]]'' || 2028 (planned) || Under construction || 22220 || Project 22220 || 
|- style="background:#FFFFFF;" 
|''[[Stalingrad (icebreaker)|Stalingrad]]'' || 2030 (planned) || Ordered || 22220 || Project 22220 || 
|- style="background:#FFFFFF;" 
|''[[Rossiya (2030 icebreaker)|Rossiya]]'' || 2030 (planned)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/6713099|title=Срок выпуска атомного ледокола «Россия» сдвинули на 2030 год|language=ru|trans-title=The release date of the nuclear-powered icebreaker Rossiya has been pushed back to 2030|website=Kommersant|date=20 May 2024|accessdate=20 May 2024}}</ref> || Under construction || 10510 || [[Project 10510 icebreaker|Project 10510]] || 

|}

==See also==
* {{annotated link|Arctic cooperation and politics}}
*[[Icebreakers of Russia]]
* {{annotated link|List of civilian nuclear ships}}
* {{annotated link|Nuclear marine propulsion}}
* {{annotated link|Nuclear submarine}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Nuclear-powered icebreakers}}
* [http://englishrussia.com/?p=1838 Gallery of Russian nuclear icebreakers]
* [https://www.rosatom.ru/en/rosatom-group/the-nuclear-icebreaker-fleet/ The Nuclear icebreaker fleet] - on [[Rosatom]] official site {{in lang|en}}
* {{YouTube|x1XMZTzELaE|Video of nuclear Icebreaker Yamal visiting the North Pole in 2001}}

{{Nuclear-powered icebreakers of Russia}}
{{Polar exploration|state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nuclear Powered Icebreaker}}
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[[Category:Nuclear-powered icebreakers| ]]
[[Category:Soviet inventions]]
[[Category:Transport in the Arctic]]