Construction of the superstructure for 25-MW diesel-electric icebreaker LK-25 will be performed by Baltiysky Zavod shipyard (Saint-Petersburg), Aleksei Rakhmanov, President of the United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) told IAA PortNews.
“We will build the superstructure in Russia. Currency rates that we have today make it absolutely unprofitable to build the superstructure abroad. In this context it is feasible to have everything done here,” Rakhmanov said.
In August 2013, Baltiysky Zavod-Sudostroyeniye LLC (member of the United Shipbuilding Corporation) and the German shipbuilding holding Nordic Yards signed a contract for construction of the superstructure for LK-25 icebreaker of Project 22600.
Commenting on disruption of the construction schedule (the contract deadline for the icebreaker construction was November 2015), USC President said it was caused by the defective design. Therefore, the ship’s architecture had to be changed. “As of today, the issue of additional funding is being considered by the Government. We hope the decision will be made in the nearest future,” said Aleksei Rakhmanov.
Icebreaker of project 22600 is a powerful diesel-electric icebreaker (25 MW) with a wide range of functional capabilities. It is being built under the programme on renovation of the national icebreaking fleet.
Icebreaker of Project 22600,Victor Chernomyrdin, was laid down in Saint-Petersburg on October 10, 2012. FSUE Rosmorport plans to use the icebreaker as an auxiliary vessel when escorting convoys in challenging ice conditions at the Northern Sea Route or for independent assistance to vessels in shallow Arctic areas, and in estuaries of rivers, for helping to unload cargo on land-fast ice, for towing ships and other floating constructions in ice and in plain water, for expeditor voyages, firefighting at vessels and oil-extracting platforms. Under the contract valued at RUB 7.94 bln, the vessel was to be delivered to the customer (FSUE Rosmorport) in November 2015.