Nuclear fleet has unrestricted area and endurance of navigation, no greenhouse gas emissions
The Russian nuclear fleet celebrates its 55-th anniversary. On 3 December 1959, the RS documents were issued to the world’s first nuclear icebreaker Lenin. Today, the viability of nuclear fleet, just as back in 1950’s, is secured by its incontestable advantages as compared with the ships using fossil fuel: unrestricted area and endurance of navigation, no greenhouse gas emissions.
The Lenin nuclear-powered icebreaker docked in the Kola Bay at the Murmansk port (Image Credit: Wikipedia)
Since 1959, the RS Rules for the classification and construction of the nuclear ships have been implemented during construction of all the ships with nuclear power plants. The Rules are systematically updated upon the experience in ship construction and operation, the results of research and development, the up-to-date requirements to the hazardous production facilities and facilities employing nuclear power.
Ships with nuclear power plants are unique structures built with due regard to the latest scientific achievements. The first ever floating nuclear power station Akademik Lomonosov (FNPS) and the new universal nuclear icebreaker Arktika (project 22220) are currently under construction to the RS class. The contracts for the classification under construction of another two icebreakers of this projects have been signed by RS.
During the construction of the icebreaker Arktika, RS experts perform survey of hull, machinery, equipment, devices, radio navigation and electrical facilities, automation equipment in compliance with the requirements of RS rules, RS-approved project documentation as well as with the applicable requirements of international codes and conventions. Upon the completion of construction, RS will continue survey of the icebreaker under operation.
Due to the new design, the icebreaker can vary draft and operate both in deep waters of western Arctic areas (Barents, Pechora and Kara Seas), and in shallow waters of river estuaries (Yenisey’s mouth and the Gulf of Ob). The icebreaker will be capable of continuous proceeding ahead, breaking heavy ice of over 2 m thick. The high-tech universal vessels of this project will be the largest and the most powerful icebreakers in the world. |
The FNPS fitted with a reactor facility of higher safety intended for the Far North and Far East has been developed for the first time in Russia. The power station is completely self-contained and is intended for electric and heat energy generation and supply to shore-based structures. The power station may also operate under tropical conditions.
The FNPS meets the up-to-date standards and requirements for the safety and ecological compatibility level which removes restrictions on its location close to settlements and allows to recommend it for use as a part of objects of various purposes.
Such power stations may be used extensively in regions suffering from power supply shortages and will allow to implement projects requiring self-contained and uninterrupted power supply in lack of a developed power system. FNPS may also be used during extraction and sea transportation of hydrocarbons from the Arctic.
Source: Russian Maritime Register of Shipping