Construction of icebreakers of project 21180 will continue
"Ilya Muromets" during launching, June 10, 2016
In 2015, the Russian shipbuilding industry, commissioned by the naval fleet began building icebreakers of the new project 21180. In the future, plans for such construction were revised several times, mainly in the direction of reduction. However, now it has become known that the Ministry of Defense is going to resume the construction of modern icebreakers. The new pennants will be built according to a modernized design and will begin service in a few years.
Head icebreaker
The project of the promising icebreaker "21180" was developed in the first half of the XNUMXs by the Vympel design bureau (Nizhny Novgorod) and the engineering center of the Admiralty Shipyards plant (St. Petersburg). The Ministry of Defense was the customer for the development and construction; it planned to issue contracts for four such vessels in the near future.
The contract for the construction of the lead icebreaker pr. 21180, named Ilya Muromets, was signed in March 2014. At the end of the same year, Admiralty Shipyards began preparations for construction and metal cutting. The laying ceremony took place on April 23, 2015. Construction on the slipway took just over a year. On June 10, 2016, the ship was launched and transferred to the outfitting embankment.
Completion and installation of the remaining systems were completed in 2017, after which mooring trials began. The lead icebreaker entered the factory sea trials in July of the same year. All activities took only a few months, and on November 27, Ilya Muromets was accepted by the customer. The icebreaker was intended for the Northern Fleet, and soon went to the place of permanent deployment.
Lead icebreaker on trials
According to new plans
When the lead ship pr. 21180 was being completed, the Ministry of Defense changed its plans for serial construction. In April 2017, for financial reasons, the department decided to abandon the construction of new icebreakers according to the original project. It was proposed to develop a reduced, simplified and cheaper icebreaker with the code "21180M". The design was again entrusted to Vympel Design Bureau.
The contract for the construction of the first icebreaker pr. 21180M was signed at the end of 2017. The Almaz shipbuilding company (St. Petersburg) was appointed as the contractor. During 2018, the enterprise prepared production facilities, and on December 12, the laying of the vessel took place, which received the name "Evpatiy Kolovrat". Construction in the workshop took almost two years. The icebreaker was launched on November 24, 2020.
In the autumn of 2022, the completed vessel passed mooring trials. On the first day of winter, "Evpaty Kolovrat" entered the factory sea trials, which took the minimum time. On January 15, 2023, the new icebreaker, with the help of a tug, set off from St. Petersburg to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. After arriving in Kamchatka, the ship will be officially accepted into the Navy. Then it will begin service in the Pacific Fleet.
Plans for the future
According to the initial plans, the industry was supposed to build four icebreakers of Project 21180 for the Navy. In 2017, they decided to limit themselves to one ship of the original project and develop its reduced and simplified version of the 21180M. At the Yevpatiy Kolovrat laying ceremony, it was reported that two more icebreakers would be built by 2027 according to the updated project. However, until recently, nothing was reported about the implementation of such plans.
"Ilya Muromets" and its crew on the day of raising the flag, November 30, 2017
New information on this topic appeared only a few days ago, on March 17th. The Izvestia publication, citing its sources in the Ministry of Defense, reports that a decision in principle to continue the construction of icebreakers has been made. Now the department and industry are working on various issues of the future construction of the third vessel of the series.
The next pennant will again be built according to the updated project. Its development has already begun, but the design organization is not specified. The coordination of deadlines for the execution of works is ongoing. The icebreaker, tentatively, will begin service in 2027. At the same time, the possibility of shifting the dates to the right is not ruled out. The vessel is intended for the Northern Fleet.
The possibility of building two icebreakers in the future was mentioned earlier. Work is already underway on the first of them, while the prospects for the second remain unknown. Apparently, the Navy and industry will start working on this issue later, when they complete current activities.
multi-purpose vessel
Icebreakers pr. 21180(M) were created to solve a wide range of tasks in the northern seas in ice up to 1-1,5 m thick (ice class Icebreaker6). Such icebreakers must escort vessels and ships or tow them. Independent transportation of goods is provided, both between ports and to remote bases. It is possible to place various scientific equipment on board. There is also information about the possibility of installing weapons.
"Evpaty Kolovrat" pr. 21180M on the eve of launching, November 2020
The original project 21180 provided for the construction of a vessel with a displacement of 6 thousand tons, a length of 85 m and a width of 20 m. the draft has decreased from 21180 to 82 m, which allows the use of the icebreaker version "M" in shallow water.
The vessel receives a diesel-electric power plant with full electric propulsion. It is based on four diesel generators with a capacity of 2,6 MW each. For movement, two rotary propeller-steering columns with electric motors with a capacity of 3,5 MW are used. With their help, the icebreaker pr. 21180 develops a speed of up to 15 knots, the upgraded "21180M" - up to 14 knots. Cruising range - 9 or 7,6 thousand nautical miles, respectively. Autonomy reaches 30 days.
The icebreaker has a large deck area and a large cargo hold. The total carrying capacity of the vessel is 500 tons. On the deck there is a 26 t crane and a smaller 2 t loader crane. The vessel can simply carry cargo or serve as a base for special systems and complexes for various purposes, incl. in container form.
On the bow in front of the superstructure, a flight deck is organized for one helicopter of the Ka-32 type or similar. The vessel also carries a workboat and can carry various equipment for installation on it. In particular, it is envisaged to combat oil spills. To do this, the icebreaker transports booms installed by a regular boat.
The second icebreaker during completion
Behind the helipad there is a place for mounting an artillery system of the AK-230 or AK-630 type. In addition, the mobilized vessel must have a shooting weapon, light anti-aircraft weapons, etc.
Obvious prospects
At one time, the 21180 icebreaker construction program encountered certain problems, because of which the Ministry of Defense had to revise plans. As a result, only one new ship has been handed over to the fleet so far, and another one will begin service in the near future. Now it has become known that the Ministry of Defense is not only planning the construction of new pennants, but is also carrying out the necessary measures for this.
Icebreakers pr. 21180 (M) are of obvious interest to our fleet. They are characterized by high performance and are able to effectively support the activities of warships and auxiliary vessels in the northern seas. In addition, such icebreakers can solve a number of other important tasks, both independently and as part of detachments.
The new icebreakers are intended for the Northern and Pacific fleets. These associations already have a sufficient number of icebreakers of various classes and types, but their average age is gradually growing. Due to the newly built vessels pr. 21180(M), it will be possible to update the icebreaking fleet, as well as give it some new opportunities. The expected order for a new icebreaker of an updated design will, to a certain extent, speed up and advance the processes of such an upgrade.
Information