Фото: Project 21180

On 16 January 2015 after review of bidding documents it was announced that TSNII SET won the tender for supply of the electric propulsion system for the new icebreaker under construction at Admiralty Shipyards, St. Petersburg.

According to the Russian Navy’s plan the first icebreaker is to be built for the Northern Fleet. This ship is designed to be propelled by a 7 MW electric propulsion system. The prospective ship (Project 21180) is a modern Russian icebreaker of new generation with two propulsion pods (3.5 МW each) and up-to-date powerplant implementing the advanced electric propulsion concept. The main data of Project 21180 are as follows:

• Displacement — 6 000 t,
• Length — 84 m,
• Beam — 20 m,
• Hull depth — 10 m,
• Draft — 7 m,
• Crew — 32

A series of 4 sister icebreakers is planned under the auxiliary vessel replacement program of the Russian Defense Ministry.

The Krylov Centre is also involved in the conceptual design studies on the new 110 MW Leader Icebreaker intended to support year-round navigation via the Northern Sea Route. This advanced icebreaker with enhanced icebreaking capability of up to 3.5 m ice thickness will also need an electric propulsion system whose concept is being already examined by TSNII SET.