Kapitan Khlebnikov icebreaker

The 1981-built MS Kapitan Khlebnikov ("ледокол Капитан Хлебников") is an icebreaking vessel. The "icebreaker cruise ship" is regularly chartered by the travel company Quark Expeditions for tourist shipping operations on itineraries to Russian Arctic territories.

The vessel (IMO number 7824417, Helsinki Shipyard/hull number 430) is currently Russia-flagged (MMSI 273146110) and homeported in Vladivostok.

Until 2016, the boat was owned by the Russian company FESCO Group (subsidiary "Far East Shipping Company"). Since 2016, it is owned by the Russian Federation and managed by the state-owned corporation Rosmorport. This icebreaking vessel is generally used for supplying mines, resource exploitation industries and for scientific expeditions.

The former shipowner FESCO is Russia's largest intermodal transportation company. Among the services provided are marine shipping, cargo port handling and rail transportation. The company has over 70 sales offices around the world, with its headquarters in Moscow. FESCO is publicly traded and among Russia's largest privately-owned logistics and transportation companies. Its businesses also include cargo ports management, marine shipping, ferry services, rail services, logistics. Most of its operations are in Russia's Far East regions. FESCO's fleet, along with Khlebnikov, also includes the diesel-powered icebreakers Admiral Makarov, Krasin and Magadan.

The icebreaker was constructed in Finland in 1981 as one of four Kapitan Sorokin-class icebreaking vessels. In 1990, the vessel was converted into a cruise ship. Khlebnikov has 51 cruise cabins, Bar Lounge/Messhall, a theatre-style Auditorium, modern amenities (complimentary drinks, sauna, heated indoor plunge pool). This is also the only cruise ship with two onboard helicopters, providing opportunities for aerial sightseeing excursions.

Kapitan Khlebnikov cruise itinerary program offers polar expedition cruises in the Arctic, leaving from Anchorage (Alaska, USA), Longyearbyen (Spitsbergen, Svalbard Norway) and Ottawa (Ontario, Canada).

In March 2012 the vessel retired as a passenger ship and returned to escort duties in the Russian Arctic. Quark Expeditions then marked the occasion with special guests and itineraries. From July 10, 2011, through September 13, 2011, the icebreaker made a full Arctic circumnavigation cruise which lasted for 66 days and featured adventure activities and helicopter tours.

Besides Quark Expeditions, the icebreaker is also chartered by the USA-based company "Victory Cruises". The company generally charters Russian icebreakers and ice-strengthened cruise ships, among which are Akademic Sergey Vavilov, Akademik Ioffe, Ushuaia, Ortelius, Plancius, Ocean Nova, Polar Pioneer, Stella Australis.

Kapitan Khlebnikov icebreaker vessel details

FESCO is the biggest icebreaker-ship operator in Far East Russia. The Russian Federation government transferred 4 ice-breaking vessels to the company. FESCO's fleet, along with Khlebnikov, also includes the diesel-powered icebreakers Makarov, Krasin and Magadan.

The four ships provide assistance in the ice-covered waters of the Russian far-eastern seas and the Arctic. However, their deployment is not limited to these sectors and covers areas from the Eastern Arctic region down to the Antarctica coast.

A polar-class icebreaker that combines technology with modern comforts, the Kapitan Khlebnikov ship was originally designed for the severity of the Arctic Ocean. She has twin decks, with superstructure and engine room located midship, transom stern and an icebreaker bow. The stern area is cushioned to allow for close towing of other ships when helping through the ice.

Passenger accommodations include a total of 54 cabins and suites. The icebreaker has two dining rooms, a Bar Lounge. Other amenities are an exercise room, sauna and heated indoor swimming pool, as well as Boutique Shop and theatre-style Auditorium. The Library offers an extensive polar-themed books collection.

The ice-breaker's double hull has water ballast between, along with pumps that move ballast water at up to 74 tons/min to help ice breaking. Hull thickness at ice skirt is 45 mm (elsewhere is 25-35 mm). Friction between the vessel and ice is reduced via polymer-paint coating (at ice skirt level). An air-bubbling system also aids ice breaking and lowers friction. Air is forced under pressure from 2 m (6,6 ft) above keel - from the bow to halfway down.

Besides Khlebnikov, the list of other Russian icebreaker cruise ships also includes Akademik Ioffe, Akademik Sergey Vavilov, Kapitan Dranitsyn, and the nuclear ships 50 Let Pobedy and Yamal,

• The vessel has 1 dining room, Sauna, 1 swimming pool (indoor, heated), 1 elevator, 1 helipad (helicopter deck).
• Max Draught: 8,5 m (28 ft)
• Displacement tonnage: 14917 tons
• DWT Deadweight tonnage: 4515 tons
• Power: Wartsila-Sulzer (six diesel engines type 9ZL40/48), each with 3040 kW output (combined 18,24 MW)
• Propulsion: diesel-electric, with three shafts (each with 5,4 MW output, or combined 16,2 MW)

Note: In the case of poor AIS coverage, tracking the vessel's current location will be impossible. You can see CruiseMapper's list of all icebreakers and ice-breaking research ships in the "itinerary" section of our Icebreakers hub. All states and their fleets are listed there.