In 2018, FSUE Atomflot’s nuclear icebreakers steered 331 ships of a total gross capacity 12.7 mln tons. As compared to 2017, the capacity of steered ships increased by 5 mln tons.
With that, the number of steering operations decreased (last year it was 493 ships) due to completion of the active phase of construction in the port of Sabetta and reduction of flow of vessels carrying cargoes for construction. Besides, as liquefied natural gas shipments from Sabetta started by LNG tankers of Yamalmax class, the gross capacity of ships steered by icebreakers has increased.
Roatomflot continues demonstrating the positive dynamics in key indicators such as proceeds and labor productivity. Following the 2018 results, the company’s proceeds were RUB 6,806 mln (in 2017 – RUB 6,622 mln). Labor productivity increased from 3,669 thousand RUB/man in 2017 to 3,802 thousand RUB/man in 2018.
In 2018 FSUE Atomflot together with OKBM Afrikantov continued planned works to extend residual service life of nuclear icebreakers’ nuclear power installations and extend lifetime of nuclear maintenance vessels. For example, in February 2018 the nuclear icebreaker Vaygach beat a record in duration of operation of its nuclear power installation set by the nuclear icebreaker Arktika in August 2008. The new record was 177,205,000 hours (the former value is 177,204,000 hours).
In 2018 the company has started work in the framework of the export contract under the project “Yamal LNG”. The work has been started on the second natural gas project in Gydan Peninsula. These key events determine workload of Rosatomflot for the coming 30-40 years.
Acting General Director of FSUE Atomflot Mustafa Kashka commented: “Successful implementation of largest national projects in the Arctic depends in many respects on efficient operation of the nuclear icebreaker fleet. In this regard, the decision made to build the third and fourth series universal nuclear icebreakers as well as the icebreaker Leader is the determining decision for the company and entire Northern Sea Route development.”
In October 2018 in Saint-Petersburg the Arctic Marine Competence Center was inaugurated for training of UNA crews on the initiative and with participation of FSUE Atomflot. It was opened at the facilities of the Admiral Makarov State University of Maritime and Inland Shipping. It is the only in the country the marine educational establishment intended for training, advanced training, keeping professional competences and periodic retraining of the new generation personnel of the nuclear icebreaker fleet.
FSUE Atomflot has successfully implemented the project on creation of a port fleet to render services in the Gulf of Ob. In June 2018 the icebreaking tow boat Nadym (ice class Arc 6) was accepted into service. Vyborg Shipyard (Vyborg, Leningrad Region) completes building the port icebreaker Ob (launched on June 21, 2018); the ship commissioning is set for 2019.
Late December 2018 the dock fitted with modern equipment was completed. This equipment includes machines to process pulling gears, shafts, propellers of icebreakers and over vessels as well as their repair. The permit to put the dock in operation was received. “All works can be fulfilled in the new dock; the works related to the dock repair of universal nuclear icebreakers. The new machine processes the shaft of up to 70 tons,” Oleg Darbinyan, Director for Fleet Technical Operation at FSUE Atomflot, noted.
