Ivan Moskvitin (icebreaker)

Ivan Moskvitin (Russian: Иван Москвитин) was a Soviet and later Russian icebreaker in service from 1971 until 1997. It was one of twelve Project 97A icebreakers built by Admiralty Shipyard in Leningrad in 1961–1971.

History
Soviet Union → Russia
NameIvan Moskvitin (Иван Москвитин)
NamesakeIvan Moskvitin
Owner
Port of registry
BuilderAdmiralty Shipyard (Leningrad, USSR)
Yard number781
Laid down2 November 1970
Launched25 March 1971
Completed1 September 1971
Decommissioned1997[2]
In service1971–1997
IdentificationIMO number7117383[1]
FateBroken up
General characteristics [3]
Class and typeDobrynya Nikitich-class icebreaker
Displacement2,935 t (2,889 long tons)
Length67.7 m (222 ft)
Beam18 m (59 ft)
Draught5.35 m (17.6 ft)
Depth8.3 m (27.2 ft)[4]
Installed power3 × 13D100 (3 × 1,800 hp)
PropulsionDiesel-electric; three shafts (2 × 2,400 hp + 1,600 hp)
Speed15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Range5,700 nautical miles (10,600 km; 6,600 mi) at 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph)
Endurance17 days
Complement42

Description edit

 
Ivan Kruzenstern, a similar Project 97A icebreaker

In the mid-1950s, the Soviet Union began developing a new diesel-electric icebreaker design based on the 1942-built steam-powered icebreaker Eisbär to meet the needs of both civilian and naval operators. Built in various configurations until the early 1980s, the Project 97 icebreakers and their derivatives became the largest and longest-running class of icebreakers and icebreaking vessels built in the world. Of the 32 ships built in total, the unarmed civilian variant Project 97A was the most numerous with twelve icebreakers built in 1961–1971.[3]

Project 97A icebreakers were 67.7 metres (222 ft) long overall and had a beam of 18 metres (59 ft). Fully laden, the vessels drew 5.35 metres (17.6 ft) of water and had a displacement of 2,935 tonnes (2,889 long tons). Their three 1,800-horsepower (1,300 kW) 10-cylinder 13D100 two-stroke opposed-piston diesel engines were coupled to generators that powered electric propulsion motors driving two propellers in the stern and a third one in the bow. Project 97A icebreakers were capable of breaking 70 to 75 centimetres (28 to 30 in) thick snow-covered ice at very slow but continuous speed.[3]

History edit

The second-to-last of twelve Project 97A icebreakers was laid down at Admiralty Shipyard in Leningrad on 2 November 1970, launched on 25 March 1971, and delivered to the Black Sea Shipping Company on 1 September 1971. It was named after the 17th century Russian explorer Ivan Yuryevich Moskvitin and initially stationed in Odessa. In 1997, it was transferred to the Far East Shipping Company and registered in Vladivostok.[3]

Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Ivan Moskvitin passed over to the successor state, Russia.[2]

Ivan Moskvitin was taken out of service in 1997 and sold for scrapping in Bangladesh shortly afterwards.[5]

References edit

  1. ^ "Ivan Moskvitin (7117383)". Equasis. Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  2. ^ a b c "Афанасий Никитин". FleetPhoto. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d Kuznetsov, Nikita Anatolyevich (2009), "От «Добрыни Никитича» до «Отто Шмидта»: Ледоколы проекта 97 и их модификации", Морская коллекция (in Russian), no. 8 (119), Moscow: Моделист-конструктор
  4. ^ "Дизель-электрические ледоколы, проект 97А". CDB Iceberg. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  5. ^ "Ivan Moskvitin (7117383)". Sea-web. S&P Global. Retrieved 14 May 2023.