Sanctions Interfere: Russia May Save Germany's Most Powerful Icebreaker Stranded in the Arctic

The icebreaker Neuwerk (IMO 9143984) is stuck in the Baltic Sea. Only the Russian nuclear icebreaker fleet can pull the German vessel out.

The German icebreaker was sent to assist the giant LNG tanker Minerva Amorgos, which was also stuck in the ice. As a result, the rescue operation failed - the icebreaker lost the ability to move independently and did not break through to the gas carrier.

The Neuwerk icebreaker is considered the most powerful vessel of the Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration of Germany. It has the third ice class and is designed to work with ice up to half a meter thick, but this was not enough for Arctic conditions. The reason for the work stoppage was cited as a decrease in the power of one of the engines.

Only the Russian nuclear icebreaker of Project 22220 will be able to free the stuck equipment. However, this turned out to be impossible due to sanctions.

The Russian nuclear fleet includes the icebreakers "Arktika", "Sibir", "Ural" and "Yakutia". All these vessels successfully serve in the Arctic waters. They are capable of breaking ice up to three meters thick.

General technical characteristics of Project 22220 icebreakers:

• Maximum speed - 22 knots (40.7 km/h)
• Endurance without refueling - 7 years
• Crew - from 52 to 54 people
• Power on propeller shafts - up to 60 MW
• Engines - 2 RITM-200 nuclear reactors of 175 MW each
• Cruising range - unlimited

Read more materials on the topic:

• Construction of the nuclear icebreaker of Project 22220 is nearing completion: the first major equipment has been launched on the "Chukotka"
• Construction of the icebreaker for the Neva continues: the tugboat "Narvskaya Zastava" will receive a fire extinguishing system
• The world's most powerful icebreaker will receive new emergency switchboards