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Seeing the New Millennium in 90°N |
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Machines and services
Ice-breaker "YAMAL"
The "YAMAL" nuclear-powered ice-breaker is the world's most powerful
ice-breaking ship. Our expedition will take place aboard a truly unique
vessel.
Featuring an impressive 75,000 h.p. output of propulsion plant,
double hull, thick armour fabricated of special-purpose steel sheets and
boasting a special icebreaking design, "YAMAL" is one of very few surface
ships to ever have reached the North Pole. Displacing over 23,000 tonnes
and specifically designed to break the vessel traffic lanes in Russia's Arctic
Shipping Route, the icebreaker is capable of defeating the thickest and
strongest ice.
Passage through ice is facilitated by the use of pneumatic flushing system
which delivers hot water beneath the ice through special sprayer nozzles,
as well as by polymeric coating and the capability of rapid transfer of
ballast water. The vessel can break the ice while running both ahead and
astern. The ice-breaker is propelled by three propellers, each furnished
with four 7-tonne blades. Two nuclear reactors generating steam for
propulsion of the vessel are encapsulated within a 160-tonne shielding
jacket made of steel, high-density concrete and water. Double vacuum-type
desalinating plants produce five tonnes of fresh water per hour. The
ice-breaker is equipped with state-of-the-art satellite navigation system
and up-to-date communication equipment, including telephone, telex, fax
and E-mail facilities.
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Technical characteristics of "YAMAL" ice-breaker:
Length: 150 m
Beam: 30 m
Draught: 11.8 m
Displacement: 23,445 tonnes
Propulsion plant: two steam turbines driving six
generators.
Total power output: 75,000 hp.
Cruising speed: 19.5 knots
Maximum fuel stock/endurance: sufficient for approx. four years of
continuous operation.
Crew: 150.
Number of passengers
the vessel can accommodate: 100.
Place of registration: Russian Federation.
Deck Plans
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"YAMAL" ice-breaker is an example of advanced
technology and matching comfort provided for passengers. The ice-breaker
is operated by the Murmansk Shipping Company.
High quality of accomodation
Passengers are accommodated on board in 50 deck cabins and first-class
state rooms equipped with all conveniences. The cabins have large
windows and are furnished with desks, TV sets etc. Recreation and public
spaces include the spacious mess-room (accommodating all passengers
for their meals), the library, the film-viewing room, the indoor swimming
pool filled with warm seawater and complete with a sauna. In addition to
that, the ice-breaker has its own small medical hospital.
You can enjoy breath-taking views from the captain's bridge (to which an
access is permitted at almost any time) and from the broad weather decks
at various deckhouse levels.
Excellent cuisine
Expert world-class chefs ensure a wide assortment of dishes and food
varieties representing cuisines of the entire world is served on board.
Skilled West European and Russian staff attend to your needs on board
the vessel. The bar which is open to everyone has a substantial stock of
liquor, wine and champagne.
Attendants, guides and crew
of the vessel
An experienced crew of 150, including 50 officers and mechanics, operate
the ice-breaker. Possessing the largest and most up-to-date fleet of
ice-breaking ships, Russians are acclaimed as most respected experts in the
field of polar exploration. The vessel̉s voyage is supervised by an
experienced chief of the expedition and by personnel recruited on the
merits of their experience and their knowledge of the area of navigation.
Outings aboard the helicopter and
"Zodiac" mobile boats
The helicopter available on board "YAMAL" ice-breaker is indispensable
for navigating in ice conditions, and is used for reconnaissance flights and
passenger outings. This multi-purpose machine will carry us to remote
areas or to otherwise inaccessible beaches. Besides, we shall use it
during our expedition for skydiving to the North Pole and for retrieving the
balloonists after their flights have been completed. The unique feature of
our expedition is the chance to cast a view from above at the polar
landscapes and at our vessel breaking through the thick ice. Besides,
YAMAL ice-breaker has several Zodiac mobile boats which are
equipped with powerful outboard motors and adapted to the sea outings
and to disembarking passengers onto sloping sea beaches.