KAPITAN KHLEBNIKOV icebreaker

[aukepalmhof]

Built as a icebreaker under yard No430 by Wärtsilä Helsinki shipyard, Helsinki, Finland for the Russian Government.
05 November 1980 launched as the KAPITAN KHLEBNIKOV one of the Sorokin class icebreakers.
Tonnage 12,288 grt, 3,686 nrt, 4,418 dwt, dim. 129.10 x 26.74 x 12.30m, length bpp. 121.30, draught 8.50m.
Powered diesel electric by six Sulzer diesel engines type 9ZL 40/48, total 24,200 hp, three electric motors each 5,400 hp, three shafts, speed 19 knots maximum.
Bunker capacity 4,092 tons.
Accommodation for 112 passengers and 70 crew.
One hold with a capacity of 1,030 m³.
Fitted out with a aft helicopter deck and hangar.
29 May 1981 delivered with homeport Vladivostok.

The KAPITAN KHLEBNIKOV is a Russian (formerly Soviet) icebreaker. The vessel now operates as a cruise ship offering excursions to the Arctic and Antarctic.
The KAPITAN KHLEBNIKOV was completed in Finland in 1981 as one of five Kapitan Sorokin class icebreakers. She was refitted in 1990 as a tour ship. and was the first ship to circumnavigate Antarctica with passengers in 1996-97.
In February 2006 the KAPITAN KHLEBNIKOV reached the Bay of Whales in the Antarctic, reaching 78° 40.871' south and equalling the record set by Roald Amundsen in the FRAM in 1911.
In November 2009, the ship was briefly stuck in a bay near to Snow Hill Island whilst carrying tourists and a BBC film crew. The ship was placed a few days behind schedule but not endangered.
A polar-class icebreaker, combining power and technology with creature comforts, KAPITAN KHLEBNIKOV was originally designed for the rigors of northern Siberia. The vessel has twin-decks with superstructure and engine room in the middle, an icebreaker bow and transom stern. The stern region is cushioned to allow for the close towing of other vessels when helping them through the ice.
Passenger accommodation is in 54 cabins and suites, with 2 dining rooms, a lounge and bar. Facilities include a heated indoor swimming pool, exercise room and sauna, theatre-style auditorium and shop. The library has a collection of polar-themed books.
The double hull has water ballast between, with pumps that can move ballast water at up to 74 tonnes a minute to aid ice breaking. The hull thickness is 45mm at the ice skirt and 25-35mm elsewhere. Friction between the ship and the ice is reduced by a polymer-paint coating at the level of the ice skirt. An air bubbling system helps ice breaking. Air can be forced under pressure from 2m above the keel from the bow to halfway down the ship.
In addition to charters for scientific missions, and for supplying mines and other resource exploitation industries, the vessel is chartered for adventure cruises.
The KAPITAN KHLEBNIKOV was trapped in Antarctic ice in mid November 2009. The Guardian reports that 101 passengers, mainly United Kingdom citizens, were among the 184 trapped ship's complement. Three of the UK passengers were a BBC film crew, working on a documentary. The documentary is scheduled to be broadcast in 2011, and the project is currently entitled "Frozen Planet". The excursion was called the "Emperor Penguin Safari", and was arranged by an adventure travel firm called "Exodus".
KAPITAN KHLEBNIOV will retire as a passenger vessel in March 2012, returning to escort duties in the Russian Arctic. Quark Expeditions is marking this End of an Era with a series of itineraries and special guests. The icebreaker will make a full circumnavigation of the Arctic from July 10, 2011 to September 13, 2011. The circumnavigation will last for 66 days and include helicopter tours and adventure
2013 As given by http://www.equasis.org that she is owned and managed by FESCO, Moscow. IMO No 7824417. Last update of Equasis of 11 June 2013 that she is “laid up”.

Mozambique 2013 16.00MT sg?, scott? (Given on the stamp as CAPITAO CHLEBNIKOV.) Sao Tomme et Principe 2010 10,000 D sg?, scott? (scan is not so clear so it can be one of the class?)
Sierra Leone 2018 LE 40000 sg?, scott?
Guinea 2018 12500 FG sg?, scott?

Source: Russian Maritime Register of Shipping. Equasis. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kapitan_Kh ... cebreaker)