Icebreakers are capable of breaking through layers of ice several meters thick, are used to open waterways and allow cargo ships to pass through the most extreme sea routes, and are a symbol of national strength and industrial, scientific and technological strength, here are the 10 largest icebreakers in the world:
10. Kapitan Khlebnikov
Russian owned, made in Finland in 1981. It is a hybrid propulsion icebreaker with a capacity of 70 crew members and 110 passengers, and currently operates as a cruise ship, offering excursions to 122-meter-long locations such as the Arctic.
The 26-meter-wide helicopter can transport tourists to glaciers and other inaccessible places with a total tonnage of 12,200 tons, a cargo capacity of 4,400 tons, two engines, a total power of 24,000 horsepower, and a maximum speed of up to 15 knots.
9. ANDREY VILKITSKIY
Russian owned, made in Russia in 2018. It is 122 meters long, 26 meters wide, with a gross tonnage of 11,200 tons, a cargo capacity of 4,500 tons, 2 engines, a total power of 29,500 horsepower, and a maximum speed of 16 knots.
It is operated by one of the world's leading oil production companies, which has a large fleet of tankers and icebreakers. The goal is to ensure the safe and efficient operation of ships sailing in the Arctic throughout the year.
8. Xuelong 2
Continental-owned, built in China in 2019, is a hybrid icebreaker that can break ice up to 1.5 meters thick.
For geological and biological research, experiments and exploration The supply vessel also used as a facility in the Arctic and Antarctic regions is 123 meters long and 22 meters wide With a gross tonnage of 12,700 tons and a cargo capacity of 4,900 tons It has 2 engines, a total power of 20,100 horsepower and a maximum speed of up to 15 knots.
7. USCGC Healy
U.S. Owned, Made in the USA in 1999. It is the largest and most technologically advanced icebreaker in the United States and is designed to perform a wide range of investigative activities It is equipped with a heliport, hangar and laboratory.
The vessel can accommodate more than 130 people, including a crew and a scientist with a length of 128 meters, 25 meters wide, a gross tonnage of 15,100 tons, a cargo capacity of 7,500 tons, 4 engines, a total power of 60,000 horsepower, and a maximum speed of 17 knots.
6. SA Agulhas II
Owned in South Africa, manufactured in Finaldia in 2012. It is a multi-purpose vessel that can be used as an icebreaker, research or supply vessel, and cruise ship.
Accustomed to transporting scientists and equipment for South Africa's National Antarctic Programme, it has a range of 28,000 km, can accommodate 45 crew members and 100 passengers, is 134 meters long, 22 meters wide, has a gross tonnage of 12,800 tons, has a cargo capacity of 4,700 tons, has 4 engines, a total power of 16,000 horsepower, and a maximum speed of 16 knots.
5. Shirase 5003
Made in Japan in 2008. 138 meters long and 28 meters wide It is operated by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force for Antarctic exploration.
It is equipped with a defensive system and a curved bow, with improved icebreaker capacity, a total capacity of 180 crew members and 80 scientists It has a displacement of 20,000 tons and has room to carry a load of 1,100 tons. It has 4 engines with a total power of 30,000 horsepower and can reach speeds of more than 19 knots.
4. Le Commandant Charcot
France-owned, built in Romania in 2021, is the world's first hybrid icebreaker cruiser it is designed for polar expedition voyages and is powered by liquefied natural gas and electricity.
It is equipped with luxurious interiors and facilities, can accommodate 235 crew and 245 passengers, is 150 meters long, 32 meters wide, has a gross tonnage of 31,200 tons, and carries a cargo capacity of 4,700 tons It has 4 engines with a total power of 41,300 horsepower and a maximum speed of 15 knots.
3. Taymyr
Russian owned, made in Finland in 1988. It was a nuclear-powered icebreaker built for the Soviet Union to operate on arctic coastal routes with ice up to 2 meters thick.
It can accommodate 138 people, equipped with a heliport and various crew facilities, 150 meters long, 29 meters wide, a total tonnage of 20,700 tons, a cargo capacity of 3,500 tons, a nuclear reactor with a capacity of 59,600 horsepower, and can reach speeds of more than 18 knots.
2. Victory (50 Let Pobedy)
Russian owned, made in Russia in 2007. It is a nuclear-powered icebreaker designed to break through 2.5 meters of ice. Characterized by its maneuverability and speed, it has been used to transport tourists to the Arctic.
It can accommodate a crew of 140 people and more than 120 passengers, is 160 meters long, 30 meters wide, has a gross tonnage of 23,400 tons, has a cargo capacity of 3,500 tons, has 2 nuclear reactors with a total power of 75,000 horsepower and a speed of more than 21 knots.
1. Arctic (ARKTIKA)
Russian-owned, manufactured in Russia in 2020, is a new generation of nuclear-powered icebreakers that can break ice 3 meters thick, have a range of 7 years, and are operated by a crew of 53.
It is escorted by large ships sailing on the North Sea Route, with a length of 173 meters, a width of 33 meters, a total tonnage of 28,400 tons, a cargo capacity of 7,100 tons, and two nuclear reactors with a total power of 97,800 horsepower and a maximum speed of 22 knots.