Russian Nuclear Icebreakers: to the North Pole!

Odyssey in the Arctic with Russian Icebreaker Fleet

The nuclear-powered icebreakers served as a symbol of Soviet technological power for many decades. Today this fleet is used to aid ship navigation in the seas north of Siberia - and for elite tourism, which helps to pay the bills.

The most powerful of all icebreakers "50 years of Victory" (one of six "Arktika" class) has two nuclear reactors and is capable of reaching North Pole in a couple of days.



Svetlana Bogdanova has recently returned from a very special trip on board of icebreaker "Vaigach" and provided us with these unique pictures. Thanks to her exclusive permission (and collection of photos by seamen of the Murmansk Sea Shipping Company) we can now have a glimpse of what it means to follow along the caravan of ships in the northern seas, led by a colossal nuclear-powered vessel.



Svetlana says: "A nuclear icebreaker almost feels alive, like a huge proud creature with a benevolent and dependable character. See it moving in the dark of night, projecting a powerful light ahead, making the snow sparkle in a misty path, feel it tremble under your feet... Its sheer immensity is inspiring, making one think of heroic exploration of unknown lands, the stuff that kids should be dreaming about"



Its population lives in the Arctic wasteland, enduring the most extreme climate. A significant part of Dixon has become a ghost town during Soviet years - and a series of ghastly buildings line up to haunt the endless night.















Launching the deep sea research vessel (Bathysphere) "MIR-1"










Encountering some heavy seas










Staying in port for maintenance






Here are Some of the Giants of the Arctic Fleet:

"Lenin" was the first Russian nuclear icebreaker, built in 1957. It looked imposing, but suffered two nuclear accidents while in operation till 1989, and now is being converted into a museum ship. Another milestone: "Arktika" became the first surface ship ever to reach the North Pole in 1977.

"50 Years of Victory" - is the largest, most powerful icebreaker ever constructed