MOSCOW, Sept 22 (Reuters) - A nuclear-powered ice breaker Russia says is the world's largest and most powerful set off on Tuesday on a two-week journey to the Arctic as part of Moscow's efforts to tap the region's commercial potential. Known as "Arktika," the nuclear icebreaker left St. Petersburg and headed for the Arctic port of Murmansk, a journey that marks its entry … [Read more...]
Heading Home: U.S. Coast Guard Icebreaker Healy Suffers Fire Off Alaska
The United States' only medium icebreaker USCGC Healy has suffered a fire and propulsion failure while en route to the Arctic. The U.S. Coast Guard reports that the Healy was approximately 60 nautical miles off Seward, Alaska on August 18 when an electrical fire in one of the ship's main propulsion motors was reported at 9:30 p.m. A fire team disconnected the affected motor, … [Read more...]
Russian Firms to Build World’s Most Powerful Nuclear Icebreaker
File Photo credit: knyazev vasily / Shutterstock MOSCOW, April 23 (Reuters) - Two Russian companies signed a deal on Thursday to build the world's most powerful nuclear icebreaker to help boost trade on a northern sea route crucial to forging closer links with Asia. Atomflot, a subsidiary of Russian nuclear group Rosatom, and the Zvezda shipyard, owned by a … [Read more...]
World’s Largest Nuclear-Powered Icebreaker Completes Stage One Sea Trials
Russia’s largest and most powerful nuclear-powered icebreaker has returned from its first round of sea trials before its planned delivery in 2020. The icebreaker, named Arktika, is under construction at Russia’s Baltic Shipyard in St. Petersburg. The vessel will displace 33,540 tonnes and is equipped with two nuclear reactors each with 175 MW thermal capacity, … [Read more...]
Serious Concerns Raised Over Inadequate Icebreaking Capabilities on Great Lakes
With winter approaching, worsening ice conditions and high water, the Great Lakes region could be facing potential job losses and serious financial implications due to aging icebreaking assets on both sides of the border, according to U.S.-based Lake Carriers' Association. The reliability and number of U.S. and Canadian icebreaking assets on the Great Lakes is seen as … [Read more...]