Built as a nuclear icebreaker by Baltic Shipbuilding & Engineering Works, Leningrad USSR for the Russian Government. (Murmansk Shipping Co.)
03 June 1971 laid down.
Launched under the name ARKTIKA.
Tonnage 18.172 gross, 3.018 net, 4.096dwt., dim. 148.00 x 30 x 17.20m., draught 11m.
Powered by two nuclear reactors, four Kirov steam turbines, 75.000 shp., driving three generators connected to three shafts. Speed 18 knots.
Crew 161.
30 December 1974 delivered to owners. Homeport Murmansk.
She was the second nuclear icebreaker built by the USSR, and used to keep the northern seaway open, the saline between Murmansk and other Russian Arctic ports.
During wintertime she can clear a passage for two to three ships, during the summer up to fifteen ships.
09 August 1977 she sailed from Murmansk under command of Capt. O.G.Pashnin for a scientific-practical experiment voyage to the Northpole and she reached the pole 8 days later.
1982 Renamed in LEONID ILIYCH BREZHNEV and in 1985 in LEONOD ILIYCH BREZHNEV. Named after the at that time General Secretary of the USSR.
1986 Renamed again in ARKTIKA.
Her service life has been extended in May 2000 from 100.000 hours to 175.000 hours.
http://www.equasis.org gives for 2008
IMO No 7429061, call sign UKTY and owned and managed by Murmansk Shipping, Murmansk
On North Korea 1984 20ch sg N2458.
Russia 1977 50k MS sg 4683. Russia 1978 20k sg 4848, Russia SG5067a, N Korea SGN2458.
Source: Marine news 1987/222. Ships of the World by Lincoln P Paine. Soviet Merchant Ships by Ambrose Greenway. Navicula.