ZiO-Podolsk (part of Rosatom’s Mechanical Engineering Division) has completed control assembly of the first RITM-200 reactor plant for serial nuclear universal icebreaker Leningrad. The vessel was laid down at the shipyard in January 2024.
Control (trial) assembly is the last stage in the multi-year manufacturing cycle of a reactor plant, during which all components and elements are assembled in the design position exactly as in the drawings. The components were assembled down to one thousandth of a millimetre to guarantee exact design alignment before shipment. Each unit generates a thermal capacity of 175 MW (which translates to 30 MW at the ship’s propellers). The RITM-200 features an integrated layout making it 1.5 times more compact and significantly lighter than older Soviet marine reactors. It is certified to operate reliably for at least 40 years.
“This RITM was the 13th consecutive one,” said ZiO-Podolsk Director Anton Lebedev. “Our company has already manufactured 10 RITM-200 reactor units and two more powerful RITM-400s. Over the years, we have accumulated a colossal amount of knowledge and skills, and today we have competencies unique in the world.” This includes dozens of production secrets and a number of patented solutions.
The icebreaker’s power plant includes two RITM-200 reactor units. The second reactor installation for Leningrad is currently being prepared for hydraulic tests in which, under high pressure, the integrity of the hull is checked to ensure the absence of leaks. Following the tests, control assembly will begin. Currently there are 15 RITMs at different stages of manufacture at Rosatom enterprises, three of which are at the final stages of manufacturing. These are installations for nuclear icebreakers, low-power nuclear power plants and floating power units. The designer, complete supplier and manufacturer of internal devices for the RITM-200 and RITM-400 reactor units is OKBM Afrikantov. The production of the reactor vessel and control assembly are carried out at ZiO-Podolsk.
Project 22220 (LK-60Ya class) consists of seven nuclear-powered icebreakers – the largest and most powerful in the world. They are constructed by the Baltic Shipyard in St Petersburg. The status of the entire Project 22220 fleet spans operational vessels, active manufacturing, and newly laid-down keels.
Already in service are the Arktika (lead vessel commissioned in 2020), Sibir (2021), Ural (2022) and Yakutia (2025). The Chukotka has been launched and is due to enter service in 2026. The Leningrad and Stalingrad are under construction with the keels laid and are due for commissioning in 2028 and 2030. While Project 22220 provides the backbone of the fleet, Russia is also constructing a singular, even larger icebreaker class – the Rossiya (Project 10510 Leader) – which will have the larger RITM-400 reactors.
The icebreaker fleet supports increasing cargo flow across the northern seas and the development of Arctic cities and towns as well as the creation of alternative reliable routes for global logistics, reducing dependence on southern routes and reducing cargo delivery time. For example, the journey from Hamburg to Shanghai via the Northern Sea Route can take about 18 days, while through the Suez Canal it takes 30-35 days.
