Russian nuclear icebreaker 50 Let Pobedy (50 Years of Victory) suffered significant damage to its hull in a collision with a cargo ship while operating on the Northern Sea Route. Photos of the incident show a deep gash on the vessel’s port side near its bow.
The incident occurred on the night of January 26 in the Kara Sea while maintaining winter shipping lanes and escorting a cargo vessel. Based on AIS data 50 Let Pobedylikely collided with the 20,144 dwt dry bulk cargo ship Yamal Krechet en route to the Ob Bay. The condition of Yamal Krechet is unknown. Nuclear icebreakers also routinely escort LNG carriers and oil tankers along the waters of Ob Bay during winter.
According to Russia’s operator of nuclear icebreakers, Atomflot, 50 Let Pobedy remains seaworthy and continues operating in Ob Bay. The damaged section is not proximate to the vessel’s nuclear reactor and the power plant continues operating normally, Atomflot confirmed on its Telegram channel.
?????? – Footage of the Collision Between the Nuclear Icebreaker '50 Years of Victory' and the Cargo Ship 'Yamal Krechet' in the Kara Sea
This incident occurred on the night of January 26, 2025, during an icebreaking operation where the icebreaker was assisting the cargo ship… pic.twitter.com/C38KvCXoEi
It is unclear if the vessel will complete its regular stint of winter icebreaking services or will return to Murmansk early to undergo repairs.
50 Let Pobedy is one of eight Russian nuclear icebreakers in service. It was laid down in 1989, but it did not enter into service until 2007 due to an extended work stoppage following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Prior to the entry into service of the new Arktika-class nuclear icebreakers in 2020, 50 Let Pobedy was the world’s largest nuclear icebreaker.
Closeup of the damage to 50 Let Pobedy. (Source: Atomflot via RBC News)
The incident is not the first collision between a nuclear icebreaker and a cargo ship. In 2017 nuclear icebreaker Vaygach collided with handymax bulk carrier Nordic Barents also in the Kara Sea. Both vessels were able to continue their journey at that time.
In July 2010 two fully-loaded Russian tankers, the Indiga and the Varzuga, collided in medium ice conditions and poor visibility. Neither ship lost seaworthiness and no oil spills were reported, in part thanks to their heavy ice-classification 1A Super with double hull.
A small recreational submersible, named Sindbad, has sunk off the Egyptian resort town of Hurghada with 45 people on board. The incident occurred around 1,000 meters offshore during an hour-long...
Only one tank filled with jet fuel was damaged after the U.S. military-contracted tanker that was transporting a shipment was struck by a cargo ship off England's northeast coast, U.S. logistics firm Crowley said.
The captain of a ship that hit a U.S. tanker off northeast England is a Russian national, the company which owns the vessel said, as police continued their inquiries into the accident and fears over the environmental impact of the crash eased.
March 12, 2025
Total Views: 2577
Get The Industry’s Go-To News
Subscribe to gCaptain Daily and stay informed with the latest global maritime and offshore news
— just like 109,100 professionals
Secure Your Spot
on the gCaptain Crew
Stay informed with the latest maritime and offshore news, delivered daily straight to your inbox
— trusted by our 109,100 members
Your Gateway to the Maritime World!
Essential news coupled with the finest maritime content sourced from across the globe.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the ...
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.