Second life of atomic lighter carrier

The only one in the world ice-breaking carrier vessel with nuclear system – a unique atomic lighter carrier “Sevmorput” is preparing for its first voyage in over 10 years. This can be called the second birthday of the vessel that escaped recycling back in 2007. Currently the gigantic 260 meters long atomic vessel is docked at the Murmansk Trading Port and during the next week will receive over 5 000 tons of cargo. After that the vessel will take the course for the Arctic.

The arctic atomic lighter carrier “Sevmorput” was constructed in 1988 at Kerch shipbuilding yard “Zaliv”. During 1992-2006 the vessel made regular transits of container and general cargoes to Dudinka port, through the Northern Sea routes, in difficult ice- and climate conditions. From the moment of its launch the lighter carrier has covered 302000 miles and carried over 1,5 mln tons of cargo.

Though in January 2007 due to low demand the vessel was decommissioned. It was about to be disposed of when the Rosatom State Corporation decided to bring the lighter-carrier to life. “Sevmorput” was repaired in Roslyakovo, successfully passed sea trials and returned to Murmansk port.
On April 27 the lighter-carrier was docked for loading at terminal No.15. According to the Director General of the Murmansk Trading Port, Alexander Masko, loading will take 7-8 days.

“Handling of the atomic lighter-carrier Sevmorput in the Murmansk Trading Port is a bright example of mutual understanding and efficient coordination for reaching the objectives of state importance. Our Port is interested in expansion of the range of processed cargoes and in the implementation of the Strategy for development of the Arctic. We hope that handling of this vessel will prove our professional competence and good technical infrastructure that allow us to successfully participate in the Arctic projects" – reported Alexander Masko.

“This is an exciting event for us and we’ve made a long way to make it happen. There had been plenty of plans considering the Sevmorput vessel and only part of them got implemented. First we thought that the first voyage would be a testing one, though now we see the vessel being loaded and the voyage is expected to be fully operational. For the first time the vessel will off-load the cargo on the ground ice.

-We feel great joy and immense responsibility for this expedition, - says Karen Stepanyan, Deputy Director General for sea/river transportation of PJSC Sovfracht which is the agent of the cargo owner.

The First Deputy of the Director General and the Chief Engineer of FSUE Atomflot Mustafa Kashka underlined that the repair works are finished and the total amount spent for the repairing exceeded 1 bln rubles. Currently several routes have been already scheduled for the vessel. 

"From July 15 the Sevmorput vessel will be engaged in the 3 months-long works on the Novaya Zemlya Island: we have to conduct research at the new deposit called Pavlovskoye. In autumn there also have been scheduled cargo delivery voyages. Container deliveries from Kamchatka to Murmansk are being also discussed; although at the moment there no agreements upon that, we hope that thus opportunity will be realized", - noted Mustafa Kashka.

The unique lighter-carrier is expected to start the first 30day voyage on May 5 to deliver over 5500 tons of versatile cargo to the Kotelny Island.