In St. Petersburg, the icebreakers "Kapitan Kosolapov" and "Kapitan M. Izmailov" of the North-Western Basin Branch of FSUE "Rosmorport" carried out a unique mission. They guided the non-self-propelled barge "Beluga 2" along the Neva River in the cold and snow, which was transporting equipment for the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant. Rosatom completed the first unit of this NPP in Turkey in December 2023.
The barge carried two horizontal separator-superheaters for Akkuyu, weighing 640 tons, which are critical for its installation and construction.
Previously, such equipment in Russia was manufactured only in a vertical design. The horizontal version of the SPH was created for the first time, based on the new low-speed turbines using Arabelle1200 technology, which are installed at the Turkish facility. The new parts of the turbine units have become more economical - according to Rosatom, machine builders have approximately halved the metal consumption of steam superheaters and increased their efficiency and reliability.
"Kapitan Kosolapov" carried out the towing of "Beluga 2" with bulky and heavy cargo, and "Kapitan Izmailov" - icebreaking assistance with the auxiliary support of the icebreaker "Nevskaya Zastava". The mission took several days - from January 25 to 29.
Conducting such complexity, carried out in winter in difficult weather conditions, is unprecedented. The operation was carried out by the company's icebreakers in the shortest possible time at a high level without incidents.
With the assistance of icebreakers, the barge first reached the pier of the Izhora plant, where it received valuable cargo, and safely arrived with it at the Bronka multifunctional sea transshipment complex of the Big Port of St. Petersburg.