Icebreaker ‘Krasin’ is a museum that could be visited during the Festival of Modern art held in a traditional museum. It enables visitors to come through the live history and feel the real romance of Polar research works.
The icebreaker symbolizes a whole epoch in the history of Russia. The place is very popular both among the guests of Saint-Petersburg and its native citizens.
In the beginning of the 20th century Russia was a leading country that developed the Polar Ocean with the help of linear ice-breakers. Russian ships ‘Ermak’ and ‘Svyatogor’ were the strongest ice-breakers in the world. Ship ‘Svyatogor’ that was renamed into ‘Krasin’ later is the second Polar ice-breaker in Russia with the most perfect construction.
Existence of the ship is closely related to the history of Russia.
The ship was sunk in 1918 to prevent invaders from reaching Arkhangelsk. The Englishmen raised the ship from the sea bottom and used it till 1921 when it was bought out by the Soviet Russia.
The ‘Svyatogor’ was renamed into ‘Krasin’ in 1927.
The powerful icebreaker took part in the rescue operation to save the Italian polar expedition led by Umberto Nobile.
During WWII the ‘Krasin’ led Allied convoys, which brought strategic supplies, arms and ammunition to the Soviet Union. The convoys fought their way to the northern Soviet seaports, despite heavy Nazi bombardment and the constant threat of submarine attacks. Many Allied ships and cargo vessels failed to reach their destination, but the ‘Krasin’ could survive. The ship is now supplied with lots of cameras and sensors.
After the war the historic icebreaker took an active part in research expeditions in the Polar Ocean and was the first to reach the Cape of Desire.
In 1941 the ‘Krasin’ goes to America.
Inside the icebreaker.
Before the reconstruction.
Routes of Polar ocean development at the time of the ‘Krasin’.
The ship participated in the global cruise that lasted 885 days and was over in October 1943.
The ‘Krasin’ underwent capital reconstruction in 1956-1960.
The ship was given the status of a research vessel in 1972 and has been considered as a historical monument of nationwide scale since 1992.
On March 31 2007 the ship celebrated its 90th anniversary.
Location: Saint-Petersburg
via nau-spb
Poor translation. Its Polar Ocean “exploration”, not development. I mean, how can you develop a whole ocean.
Fantastic!
I would love some more technical detail, though.
Engines, hull thickness and construction, etc., etc.
Marvelous post.
I wish they would restore the “two stack” appearance… I’m glad the Russians saved this ship, the Angara and the Lenin. I wish my country appreciated its polar history as much, as we are struggling to save the USCGC Glacier and the USCGC Storis.
Steven W Lindsey
state rep
Keene, NH, USA
Awesome. Will have to remember to go see this if I ever visit St.Petersburg.
A lovely old ship with an honorable history. I can see why she is preserved.
In the movie “Red tent” there is Krasin with the old bridge superstructure (like the model and the painting on the photo), but this movie was filmed after the new steel superstructure was constructed. Does anyone know how this is possible? They didn’t dismantle half of the ship only for filming.