Taymyr icebreaker

The 1989-built NS Taymyr ("атомный ледокол Таймыр") is a Russian nuclear-powered icebreaker. The prefix "NS" stands for "nuclear ship". The vessel is state-owned by the Russian Federation (via FSUE Atomflot) and operated by Rosatom. Atomflot provides maintenance and technological support for all Russian nuclear icebreakers and also services the country’s specialized vessel fleet.

The vessel (IMO number 8417481, Helsinki Shipyard/hull number 474) is currently Russia-flagged (MMSI 273135100) and homeported in Murmansk.

Taymyr is one of Russia’s nuclear-powered icebreakers and is designed as a shallow-draft vessel. She is the first of two ships in this class, the second being her sistership Vaygach. The ship features a traditional icebreaker hull form with sloping sides, a highly raked stem, and cold-resistant steel construction. Originally designed for a crew of 100, her superstructure accommodates up to 138 personnel.

In addition to Vaygach, other active Russian nuclear icebreakers include Rossiya (2027/Project Leader), NS Arktika (2020), Sibir (2021), Ural (2022), Yakutia (2024), Chukotka (2026), Vaygach (1990), Yamal (1992), 50 Let Pobedy (2007), and Sevmorput (1988, cargo vessel).

The vessel features an auditorium (also used as a recreation room) and a winter garden for growing fresh vegetables during the polar night. She is equipped with a helipad and hangar for a Kamov Ka-32 helicopter. Taymyr also has a stern notch and towing winch for close towing operations in extreme conditions. Classified as an ice-class LL2 vessel, she is designed for Arctic operations in level ice up to 2 m (7 ft) thick during winter and spring. Her shallow draft allows operations in rivers and other shallow waters.

The Taymyr icebreaker also operates expedition itineraries to the North Pole and along the Northern Sea Route off Russia’s Arctic coastline.

Russia’s nuclear icebreaker fleet is primarily used in the Arctic Ocean for escorting merchant vessels and supporting scientific research stations in ice-covered waters north of Siberia. These ships are also deployed for scientific missions and Arctic expedition cruises. Nuclear icebreakers operate in extremely cold waters, which are essential for reactor cooling.

NS Taymyr vessel details

Both Taymyr and Vaygach were designed with enhanced safety features. They can operate in waters with as little as 80 cm (2.6 ft) clearance beneath the keel. Critical systems are duplicated to improve reliability. The design allows the vessel to remain operational even after a collision with a 25,000-ton cargo ship (SA-15 class) at speeds up to 7 knots (8 mph / 13 kph).

Taymyr and her sistership Vaygach are among the last icebreakers equipped with the Wartsila Air Bubbling System (WABS). This technology releases pressurized air from nozzles below the waterline, reducing friction between the hull and the ice.

Both vessels were constructed at the Wartsila Hietalahti shipyard (Helsinki, Finland), including hull, superstructure, and propulsion systems. Their nuclear reactors were installed at Baltiysky Zavod (Baltic Shipyard) in St. Petersburg, Russia.

The ship is equipped with a dining room, sauna, library, auditorium, passenger lounge, volleyball court, gymnasium, indoor heated swimming pool, infirmary, elevator, and helipad (serving a Ka-32 helicopter).

• Deadweight tonnage (DWT): 3,550 tons
• Displacement: 21,100 tons
• Clear path width: 50 m (164 ft)
• Maximum draft: 9 m (30 ft)
• Icebreaking capability: up to 2 m (7 ft)
• Range: unlimited
• Powerplant: KLT-40M nuclear reactor (171 MW output); 2 x GTA 6421-OM5 steam turbines (18.4 MW each, 36.8 MW total)
• Propulsion: nuclear turbo-electric; 3 shafts (12 MW each, 36 MW total); three 4-bladed fixed-pitch propellers (total output 38.8 MW)

Note: In cases of limited AIS coverage, tracking the vessel’s current location may not be possible. You can view CruiseMapper’s list of all icebreakers and icebreaking research ships in the "itinerary" section of our Icebreakers hub, where all fleets are listed.