No country in the world was more interested in icebreakers than Russia. And it is small surprise, because the majority of seas washing its shores, freeze in winter. The strategic importance of northern sea routs was highly valued by even Peter I though during his reign there were no vessels capable of breaking the ice. They appeared much later and Englishmen were recognized experts in their construction. It was English shipyard W. G. Armstrong, Whitworth & Co. Ltd., which in 1916 secured an order from Russian Emperor Nicolas II for construction of an icebreaker with imposing name Svyatogor. In 1917 the vessel joined the Russian fleet.
During World War I the icebreaker was sunk not far from Arkhangelsk to suspend British ships from the fairway. However the enemy managed to raise and reconstruct the vessel, she became a trophy and sailed under the royal flag until 1921. Nevertheless, thanks to Leonid Krasin, an employee of the People’s Commissariat of Foreign Affairs of Russia, it was possible to take the icebreaker back. Since 1927 the vessel has had the name of the Soviet diplomat.
Icebreaker Krasin repeatedly participated in scientific and rescue expeditions. For example, in 1928 the vessel became the leader ship of a search operation and this ensured that the crew of Airship Italia that crashed in Arctic, was rescued. There was explorer Umberto Nobile aboard the airship. Additionally, Krasin broke the way for Russian war-ships during Kara Expedition and participated in Lena Transport Expedition.
In 1941 Icebreaker Krasin was developed into a war-ship and joined a military convoy that patrolled vessels in the Arctic Ocean In 1972, when more powerful icebreakers joined the Soviet fleet, Krasin was converted into a research vessel and then spent in expeditions 8 to 10 months annually. The scientists worked primarily in the Barents and Greenland seas. The last. scientific expedition with the participation of Icebreaker Krasin took place in 1989, and since 1992 the vessel has been laid up in Saint Petersburg turned into a branch of the Museum of the World Ocean. Nevertheless, the icebreaker is still a part of the Russian fleet but at the same time the vessel has statutory protection documents confirming her status of a nationally significant site. After the 2014 extensive repair, Krasin is capable of putting to sea if required, as all the ship systems and units are in working order.
During World War I the icebreaker was sunk not far from Arkhangelsk to suspend British ships from the fairway. However the enemy managed to raise and reconstruct the vessel, she became a trophy and sailed under the royal flag until 1921. Nevertheless, thanks to Leonid Krasin, an employee of the People’s Commissariat of Foreign Affairs of Russia, it was possible to take the icebreaker back. Since 1927 the vessel has had the name of the Soviet diplomat.
Icebreaker Krasin repeatedly participated in scientific and rescue expeditions. For example, in 1928 the vessel became the leader ship of a search operation and this ensured that the crew of Airship Italia that crashed in Arctic, was rescued. There was explorer Umberto Nobile aboard the airship. Additionally, Krasin broke the way for Russian war-ships during Kara Expedition and participated in Lena Transport Expedition.
In 1941 Icebreaker Krasin was developed into a war-ship and joined a military convoy that patrolled vessels in the Arctic Ocean In 1972, when more powerful icebreakers joined the Soviet fleet, Krasin was converted into a research vessel and then spent in expeditions 8 to 10 months annually. The scientists worked primarily in the Barents and Greenland seas. The last. scientific expedition with the participation of Icebreaker Krasin took place in 1989, and since 1992 the vessel has been laid up in Saint Petersburg turned into a branch of the Museum of the World Ocean. Nevertheless, the icebreaker is still a part of the Russian fleet but at the same time the vessel has statutory protection documents confirming her status of a nationally significant site. After the 2014 extensive repair, Krasin is capable of putting to sea if required, as all the ship systems and units are in working order.
