NUCLEAR-POWERED BARGE CARRIER

The article describes a project for the world's first nuclear-powered icebreaking barge/container carrier that is being developed in the Soviet Union. The studies appear to be in an advanced stage but it is not stated that the final decision to build the ship has been taken. The purpose of the ship is to improve the flow of freight in the Soviet Arctic basin, and to open the Siberian rivers to large volumes of barge-transported cargoes which could penetrate the Siberian land mass using water routes and without the need for extensive shore facilities for cargo handling. The main particulars of the projected ship are:-- Length, o.a. 260.3m, b.p. 228.8m; Breadth 32.2m; Draught, summer loadline 11.75m; Depth 18.3m; Displacement, fully loaded 61000 tonnes; Propulsion machinery output 29.4 MW; Speed in ice-free water 20 knots; Crew 77. The general design of the nuclear steam-raising plant will be similar to that used in the nuclear icebreakers Lenin and Arktika. The biological shield and containment systems will, however, reflect the more recent safety requirements <such as those of IMCO>. The article gives some details of the safety measures adopted for the nuclear plant. The ship will carry 74 barges, each of 370-tonne deadweight. The barges will be handled and stowed by means of a 500-tonne travelling crane which can be positioned over the stern on two overhanging cantilever structures. The ship can also be used as a container carrier <1336 standard 20 ft containers> but in this case the loading/discharging operation will be done by shore equipment. The propulsion machinery comprises a non-reversing steam- turbine installation driving a controllable-pitch propeller. The combination of non-reversing turbines and c.p. propelller was dictated by the need to have full astern power available in icebreaking regimes.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Morskoy Flot, No. 8 <1982>, p. 41 (7 pp., plans, 4 phot.)
• Authors:
  • Rodionov, N
• Publication Date: 1982

Language

• Russian

Subject/Index Terms

• Subject Areas: Marine Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00683898
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: British Maritime Technology
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 14 1995 12:00AM