At the Baltic Shipyard, two universal nuclear icebreakers of Project 22220 – "Chukotka" and "Leningrad" – are being built ahead of schedule. Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev reported on the progress of the work.
The readiness of "Chukotka" has reached 85.5% against the planned 85.1%, and "Leningrad" is 31.45% built instead of the planned 30.05%. By the end of May, nuclear fuel loading will begin on board "Chukotka" – a key stage before testing the reactor plant. For "Leningrad", the first TM-200 reactor will be delivered in the near future, which will accelerate the installation of the power unit.
Currently, three icebreakers of this series are being built simultaneously at the shipyard in St. Petersburg. According to Likhachev, the coordinated work of Rosatom specialists and the Baltic Shipyard allows not only to meet, but also to exceed the approved deadlines.
Universal nuclear icebreakers of Project 22220 are the most powerful in the world: their power is 60 MW, they are capable of breaking ice up to three meters thick. After launching, "Chukotka" and "Leningrad" will replace aging vessels and ensure the escort of convoys in difficult ice conditions.