The Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS) has successfully concluded a detailed review of the Project 22770 versatile nuclear service vessel (MSATO) design. This milestone marks a significant step forward in ensuring the safe and continuous operation of nuclear-powered icebreakers, with no similar vessels having been designed for the past 50 years.
Historical Context
The last comparable vessel to serve a similar purpose was the Imandra floating technical base, built in 1980, which is still operational today. This vessel has been instrumental in recharging the reactors of nuclear-powered ships. However, the advent of new multipurpose nuclear service vessels, such as the Project 22770, is crucial for maintaining the operational integrity of nuclear-powered icebreakers for decades to come.
Vessel Capabilities
The Project 22770 MSATO is designed with diesel propulsion and is equipped to perform a wide range of tasks associated with the refueling of nuclear propulsion systems in nuclear icebreakers. Its capabilities include loading fresh fuel into reactors, unloading spent fuel, storing handling equipment, and transporting both liquid and solid radioactive waste to processing sites. The vessel’s unlimited navigation range ensures it can support existing and future nuclear vessels, as well as floating power units.
Technical Specifications
The vessel boasts a length overall (LOA) of 158.8 meters, a beam of 26 meters, and a depth to the upper deck of 10.5 meters. With a design waterline draft of 7.0 meters, the full displacement of the vessel reaches 22,718 tonnes. It has a gross tonnage (GT) of 23,612 tonnes and a power output of 8640 kW on the propeller shafts, giving it a cruising range of 3,000 miles. The vessel is constructed to the RS KM class✪ Arc5 (hull, machinery) [2] AUT1 BWM(T) IcingSTAB(full) Nuclear Support Vessel standards.
Construction and Future Plans
In May 2023, Baltic Shipyard, part of United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC), and Atomflot signed a contract for the construction of the Project 22770 MSATO. The financing for this project is split evenly between the Russian government and the Rosatom investment program. The construction aligns with the Development Plan of the Northern Sea Route (NSR) through 2035. The design for the Project 22770 was developed by the Iceberg Central Design Bureau, and the first steel-cutting ceremony for the MSATO series took place at Baltic Shipyard in July 2024.
About Russian Maritime Register of Shipping
Founded in 1913, RS is a globally recognized classification society that plays a vital role across all segments of the maritime industry. RS is committed to enhancing the operational and environmental safety of marine transportation by reviewing technical documentation, surveying ships and offshore facilities, and certifying vessels and companies for compliance with international standards. RS also offers a broad range of engineering and consulting services and certifies quality management systems in accordance with both international and national standards. The organization is deeply involved in the certification of container types, dangerous goods, and bulk cargoes, emphasizing its commitment to safety and compliance in the maritime industry.
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Source: Portnews
