Krylov State Research Center celebrates its 125th anniversary
It would be no exaggeration to say that development of fundamental and applied theory of naval architecture began in our country in 1894 with establishment of Russia’s first and the world’s sixth model testing basin. Starting from the first years of operation, the experiments findings let considerably decrease power consumption of the future ships at the designing stage.
However, the tasks of the new scientific organization have never been limited by improvement of the existing designs. From the very beginning, the yet-to-be-lead state scientific center generated conceptual ideas for creation of principally new marine equipment. It developed designs of Russia’s first dreadnoughts and submarines.
Operation in the interest of the domestic navy continued even during the Civil War and the subsequent revival of the industry. During the industrialization period, the Center’s specialists were in the lead of ‘big fleet’ construction programme development. During the severe years of the Great Patriotic War and the Siege of Leningrad, the scientists of already established Central Scientific Research Institute were conducting research and experimental work providing the Navy being in a desperate need of support with innovative engineering solutions, thus making a tangible contribution to the victory.
The post-war era and the subsequent 'golden age' of shipbuilding (60es–70es) – are the most glorious pages of the Krylov Center chronicle. With the completion of key laboratories, the array of scientific problems and advanced research activities expanded several times. CSRI scientists cover the entire package of hydrodynamic parameters of warships and civil vessels, strength of hulls and ship structures, creation of ship power plants. Krylov Center experts were actively involved in designing of Russia’s first nuclear-powered submarine, world’s first nuclear-powered icebreaker and domestically-produced aircraft carrying ships. Invaluable contribution was made by the scientists into missile armament of ships. It should be noted that the company was one of the originators of physical field studies in the segment of marine equipment, which is still among the priorities of research works. The scientists also contributed inestimably into the Arctic shelf development including creation and servicing knowledge-intensive equipment for extraction and transportation of natural resources as well as execution of challenging marine operations in ice conditions.
Parallel to expanding the range of scientific tasks, the Center was improving its experimental and test facilities, modernization of which is proceeding today. The company’s laboratories number almost 100 test facilities, many of which are unique worldwide. Among them is the world’s longest towing tank for testing ship propulsion; the world’s largest ice basin intended for evaluation of global ice loads on ships and engineering structures; Russia’s only landscape wind tunnel for evaluation of wind loads on architectural structures; the industry’s most powerful supercomputer and many other facilities.
Today, not only does the Krylov Center develop sophisticated solutions for warships and civil vessels (anechoic plating, composite structures, anticorrosion protection systems, etc.), it also ensures their manufacture and serial supply. The Krylov Center is involved in drafting and implementation of state shipbuilding programmes. KSRC scientists take part in flagship conferences with membership in international expert societies and publication of scholarly papers in top-rated scientific outlets.
We wish KSRC retain the honorary status of the industry’s intellectual center creating perfect marine facilities that ensure security and intensive economic development of our country!
Team of PortNews Media Group
