OAO Sevmash Begins Nakhimov Fuel Offload

TRKR Kirov at the pier in Severodvinsk, home of Sevmash, 2005 (Source: TRKR Kirov website)

From the 29 September OAO Sevmash press release:

Nuclear Fuel Unloaded.

The unloading of spent nuclear fuel from the TAKR Admiral Nakhimov has begun. The defueling is proceding normally. Specialists from PO Sevmash and the crew of the cruiser are joined by representitives from Experimental Machine Construction Bureau Afrikantov and the crew of the specialized ship from the Belomorsk Naval Base.

The heavy nuclear missile cruiser Admiral Nakhimov arrived at Sevmash in 1999. However, the repairs that were planned for the ship were delayed due to lack of financing. All that time the crew and the shipyard kept the ship in good condition. In 2008 the work schedual was corrected and a chance to hurry up and do some work appeared.

Comment: Back in May, the project manager noted that they planned to "unload the active zone of the reactor" this year. I am not suprised that they defueled the Nakhimov.

I will be suprised if they actually refuel it though.

Kirov TAKR "Admiral Nakhimov" repair schedule revised

According to the FGUP "Sevmash" press service on 12 May, work on the Admiral Nakhimov, which has been pierside at "Sevmash" since 1999, will continue on a corrected schedule. According to the unofficial Northern Fleet website, this modification of the schedule is due to a lack of funding. The project manager, Boris Gulin, stated that they plan on "unloading the active zone of the reactor" in 2008.

Photo: FGUP Sevmash