Welcome to MSW’s Scuttlebutt! Here’s the news for the day.



Russia to acquire new icebreakers
Source: www.rusnavy.com

In May Russian Ministry of Transport will issue a tender for a new super-powerful icebreaker, said deputy transport minister Vladimir Olersky appearing at international forum named "Russia's Maritime Capital St. Petersburg. Transport Safety".

As for him, last winter was hard time for navigators when dozens of vessels were blocked in the Gulf of Finland expecting for icebreaker escort; obviously, present-day icebreaking fleet needs renovation.

The transport ministry has already developed a program providing that Russia would acquire 4 new icebreakers until 2015, pointed out Olersky.

"We suppose they would be two or three icebreakers with power of 16-18 megawatt and one 25-megawatt icebreaker", he said.

The new icebreaker-building program was approved by Russia's Ministry of Economic Development. So, the funds for construction of a new powerful icebreaker will be appropriated; the tender is to be issued in May.

Recall that despite warm weather and deiced Neva River, the Gulf of Finland is still ice-covered. That is why all icebreaking fleet of the port – 13 vessels – keeps on escorting.




Battle of Derne

Today’s is the anniversary of the The Battle of Derne.




NS Yamal

Today’s website is NS Yamal. Enjoy.


This Day in U.S. Naval History

1805 - Naval forces capture Derne, Tripoli; raise first U.S. flag over foreign soil.
1813 - U.S. Navy and Army forces capture York (now Toronto), Canada.
1861 - President Lincoln extended blockade of Confederacy to Virginia and North Carolina ports.
1865 - Body of John Wilkes Booth brought to Washington Navy Yard.


Diorama Idea of the Day



A Russian icebreaker and two US Coast Guard cutters rendezvous near the North Pole. To see the original high resolution photo, click here.

Gator