50 Let Pobedy icebreaker

The 2007-built NS 50 Let Pobedy ("ледокол 50 Лет Победы", translated as "50 Years of Victory") is a nuclear-powered icebreaker owned by the Russian Federation. It was the largest nuclear-powered icebreaking vessel in the world - until surpassed by NS Arktika (2020-built/LK-60Ya-class). "NS" stands for "nuclear ship".

The vessel (IMO number 9152959) is Russia-flagged (MMSI 273316240) and registered in Murmansk.

The sistership Sovetskiy Soyuz (1990) was decommissioned in 2014.

The list of other Russian icebreaking cruise ships also includes Akademik Ioffe, Akademik Sergey Vavilov, Kapitan Dranitsyn, Kapitan Khlebnikov.

Besides 50 Let Pobedy, the list of other Russian nuclear icebreaker ships includes Taymyr (1989), Vaygach (1990), Yamal (1992), Arktika (2020), Sibir (2021), Ural (2022), Yakutia (2024), Chukotka (2026), Rossiya (2027/Project Leader), Stalingrad (2028), Leningrad (2030), Sevmorput (1988/Cargo ship).

October 4, 1989, was the launch date of project no.10521 at Baltic Works, Leningrad, USSR (now Sankt-Petersburg). Originally the vessel was named NS Ural. In 1994 work was halted due to lack of funds, so the actual 50th anniversary of Victory Day (1995), found the icebreaker in an abandoned state. However, in 2003 construction was restarted.

On November 30, 2004, a fire broke out aboard the ship and all workers had to be evacuated. The fire crews had to battle the fire for about 20 hours before they got it under control and one worker had to be sent to the hospital.

At the beginning of 2007, 50 Let Pobedy icebreaker was finally completed after the 60th Anniversary. On February 1, 2007, the vessel sailed into the Gulf of Finland for 2 weeks of sea trials. Upon completing sea trials, 50 Let Pobedy returned to Saint Petersburg Baltic shipyard and began preparations for her maiden cruise to Murmansk. The newbuild showed superior icebreaker characteristics, such as top speed of 21.4 knots (40 km/h; 25 mph) and exceptional maneuverability. On April 11, 2007, 50 Let Pobedy arrived at her homeport Murmansk.

The icebreaker 50 Let Pobedy is an upgrade of Arktika-class. The 524-feet long and 98-feet wide vessel, featuring a displacement of 25840 metric tons, was designed to break through ice up to 5 m (16.4 ft) thick.

50th Anniversary of Victory is an experimental project as for the first time in Russian icebreakers' history it featured a spoon-shaped bow. The ship's designers predicted that such a shape increased the efficiency of the vessel's efforts in breaking the ice. 50 Let Pobedy icebreaker is equipped with a new digital automated control system. Her biological shielding complex was modernized and re-certified by State Commission. A brand new ecological compartment was also created.

The ship boasts an exercise/athletic facility, restaurant, library, swimming pool, massage facility, and music salon at the disposal of the crew.

Itineraries

Since 1989, Russian nuclear-powered icebreakers have been used for cruise tourist purposes, carrying wealthy travelers to the North Pole. The participant pays as fares up to USD 35,000 per person for a cruise lasting 3 weeks. The 50 Years of Victory ship has a dedicated for passenger accommodations deck specifically customized for tourists.

In 2008, Quark Expeditions chartered the vessel for expeditions to the North Pole. The maiden voyage of the 50 Let Pobedy icebreaker to the North Pole embarked on June 24, 2008, in Murmansk. The ship carried 128 passengers in 64 cabins in 5 categories. In 2008 the vessel completed a total of 3 expeditions to the North Pole for the polar adventure company.

Besides Quark Expeditions, the boat is also regularly chartered by the travel companies Noble Caledonia (UK) and Poseidon Expeditions (Russia). Since 2001, Poseidon Expeditions specializes in polar cruises to European Arctic destinations, such as the North Pole and the Russian Arctic territories. The company charters exclusively Russian icebreakers, but also ice-strengthened cruise ships.

• A group of eclipse chasers used the icebreaker to observe the August 1, 2008 eclipse. On July 21, 2008, they departed out of Murmansk and reached the North Pole 4 days later, which set a speed record for the ship.
• As of February 2013, the company was listing 50 Years of Victory in its fleet and offering it for North Pole cruises along with Russian company Poseidon Expeditions. The icebreaker reached the North Pole on July 30, 2013, for the 100th time in icebreaker navigation history.
• In October 2013, in the runup to "2014 Winter Olympics" (February 7-23, held in Sochi Russia), the nuclear ship carried the Olympic Flame all the way to the North Pole.

Following the Coronavirus crisis, in 2021 the ship was chartered by Poseidon Expeditions for two North Pole voyages. Departing July 10-22, and July 21-August 2, both polar cruises were open for booking by Russian residents only. The 13-day "Top of the World" itinerary included scenic coastal navigation and exploration of Franz Josef Land Archipelago (192 islands with abundant wildlife and stunning scenery). For the voyages, Poseidon hired 14x expedition staff, including polar experts, historians, marine biologists, geologists, glaciologists.

In July 2021, Poseidon Expeditions scheduled three icebreaker cruises in 2022 (departures July 10-22, July 21-August 1, August 1-13). Prices start at USD 30395 (EUR 25620/GBP 21985) per person - with double occupancy and Early Booking discount (for bookings made by October 31, 2021). Poseidon's fares are inclusive of a pre-cruise hotel (in Murmansk Russia), all transfers, helicopter rides, land tours/excursions, onboard entertainment and lectures, parkas.

NS 50 Let Pobedy vessel details

NS 50 Let Pobedy belongs to the Arktika-class nuclear ships - until 2017 the world's largest and most powerful ever constructed. The ship is one of all 6 vessels in this class, together with Sibir (1977-1992), Arktika (1975-2008), Rossiya (1985-2013), Sovetskiy Soyuz (1990) and Yamal (1992).

The vessel has 1 dining room, Sauna, Library, Auditorium, Passenger Lounge, Volleyball Court, Gymnasium, 1 swimming pool (indoor, heated), Infirmary, 1 elevator, 1 helipad (helicopter deck) with a Mi-2 transport helicopter.

• DWT Deadweight tonnage: 3505 tons
• Displacement tonnage: 25840 tons
• Max Draft: 11 m (35 ft)
• Icebreaking capacity: 5 m (16 ft)
• Ice-class LL1
• Range: unlimited (4 years endurance)
• Powerplant: 2x OK-900A nuclear reactors (each 171 MW, or combined 342 MW power output)
• Propulsion: turbo-electric, 3 shafts, 3 electric motors (17,6 MW output each, or 52,8 MW combined power output).

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.