Andrey Vilkitsky icebreaker

MS Andrey Vilkitsky ("ледокол Андрей Вилькицкий") is an icebreaking vessel owned and operated by Gazprom Neft ("Газпром нефть"). The shipowner is a Russian state-owned corporation (a subsidiary of PAO Gazprom) specializing in oil production and shipping. Gazprom Neft is headquartered in Sankt-Petersburg and is ranked as Russia's third-largest oil producer.

The vessel (IMO number 9777113) is Russia-flagged (MMSI 273412750) and registered in Sankt-Petersburg.

Both sister ships (Vilkitsky and Sannikov) are deployed in Ob Bay (Yamal Peninsula, Arctic Russia) to support Gazprom's Arctic Gate terminal (Novy Port offshore crude oil loading facility of the Novoportovskoye oil field). Their duties include escorting and assisting oil and LNG tankers operating along Russia’s Northern Sea Route, which connects Asia with Northern Europe.

These icebreakers provide mooring and tugging assistance, can conduct loading and rescue operations, and also participate in firefighting and oil spill response. Gas tankers are escorted between Port Sabetta (Yamal LNG plant) and Kamenny Cape (Ob Bay). Oil tankers are escorted to the Novy Port oil terminal (featuring sea mooring), where they receive support during mooring and loading operations.

Andrey Vilkitsky Vessel Details

In 2014, Gazprom Neft contracted Aker Arctic (Finland) to develop a conceptual vessel design based on Aker’s ARC130 supply icebreaker created for the Finnish Transport Agency (FTA). The resulting design, ARC130A ("A" for Arctic), is an enlarged version of the ARC130 model (Polaris icebreaker).

The ARC130A version features enhanced ice-strengthening, increased propulsion power (21.5 MW total output vs. 19 MW for Polaris), improved dynamic positioning, and additional systems for towing, firefighting, and oil spill response. Unlike Polaris, which operates on both LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) and LSMDO (Low Sulfur Marine Diesel Oil), ARC130A icebreakers use only LSMDO.

The ARC130A model was verified in August 2015 following successful open-water and ice trials at Aker Arctic’s testing facility in Helsinki (Finland). The shipbuilding contract between Gazprom Neft and Vyborg Shipyard was signed in 2015 and included the construction of two vessels. The first ship (Sannikov) was delivered in June 2018, and the second (Vilkitsky) in December 2018. The vessel's projected service life is 50 years.

The ship features a double-bottom hull with structural reinforcement in critical areas, an advanced dynamic positioning-2 (DP2) and maneuvering system, state-of-the-art radio navigation equipment, remote electronic controls, an autopilot system, and an automated powerplant management system capable of operating for several days without intervention.

Compared to Russia’s nuclear-powered icebreakers, ARC130A-class ships are more cost-effective to build and maintain, offer better maneuverability, and consume less fuel. Their uniquely shaped hulls enable 360-degree turns in ice within just one minute.

In addition to icebreaking, the vessel can transport containerized cargo (up to 8 TEUs) on a dedicated cargo deck and accommodates up to 35 personnel. The aft deck is equipped with a 25-ton capacity crane (27 m reach), while the forward Helideck (14-ton capacity) can accommodate one Mi-8 helicopter (medium-sized, twin-turbine). Onboard medical facilities include an infirmary, treatment room, and quarantine cabin. Crew amenities include a mess hall, lounge, and sauna. For oil spill response, the ship is outfitted with stern-mounted brush skimmers and recovery equipment (containers and tanks) with a total capacity of 1300 m³ (46,000 ft³).

The vessel is designed for year-round operations in thick first-year ice. Classified as “Icebreaker 8” by the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping, she is capable of escorting in severe ice conditions. The ship can break 2 m (6.5 ft) thick pack ice at 2 knots (1 mps) in both forward and reverse. In brash ice, the vessel can handle up to 7 m (23 ft) at 4 knots (2 mps) in both directions.

The midship powerplant (main deck level) includes two pairs of Wartsila generator sets (medium-speed engines) with exhaust gas economizers. An auxiliary engine (harbor generator, output 1.2 MW) supplies electricity while in port. The powerplant consists of four Wartsila diesel-electric generators—two 8L32E and two 16V32E engines—with a combined output of 27 MW, along with a harbor generator (1.2 MW) and an additional emergency generator. The ship’s endurance (fuel and supplies) is 30 days.

The ABB propulsion system is diesel-electric and comprises three azipods (ABB Azipod azimuth thrusters) with fixed-pitch propellers. Two azipods are located at the stern (combined output 21.5 MW), and one at the bow (output 1.8 MW).

Note: In areas with poor AIS coverage, tracking the vessel’s current location may not be possible. For a complete list of all icebreakers and icebreaking research vessels, visit the “itinerary” section of our Icebreakers hub. All countries and their fleets are listed there.