At the Admiralty Shipyards of USC, they are testing a model of the future flagship of the Russian polar fleet, "Ivan Frolov". This research and expedition fleet vessel will be the largest in its category and will be able to do without an icebreaker in annual ice with a thickness of 1.2 meters.
The ship model was launched and tested in a special ice pool with a temperature of -18 degrees Celsius. At this temperature, the model not only shows how well it copes with being in icy water, but also how the hull shape chosen during design copes with frozen ice. One of several options was chosen during the design, and it successfully coped with the ice pool. The data obtained was transferred to shipbuilders and designers.
"Ivan Frolov"
This is the fourth vessel of the research and expedition fleet of the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute. It will replace the current flagship of the polar fleet, the research vessel "Academician Fedorov".
The development of the Nevsky PKB will be the largest vessel in this category and will be used for marine research, personnel replacement and support of Antarctic and Arctic stations. The length of this research vessel is about 165 meters, displacement is about 25,000 tons, deadweight is 9,200 tons.
"Ivan Frolov" will receive its own helicopter pads for Mi-8, Mi-38 or Ka-32, and two helicopters, it will house twenty different laboratories where 170 scientists will work. Simultaneously, work will be carried out on dozens of scientific projects from ocean floor research to the upper atmosphere and space. Other research may also be carried out in accordance with what will be a priority in the study of polar latitudes. All studies will be built according to modular programs of any complexity, so that different scientific teams can work with them.
The ship will be maintained by 70 personnel. The research vessel is scheduled to be completed in 2028. Its service life for the benefit of Russian and world science will be at least 30 years.
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