Saft's new nickel-technology batteries include SPH models to provide starting power for diesel engines, as well as SBM batteries to provide backup power for communication, navigation, and emergency lighting systems. These next-generation batteries have replaced the original H and M Nife batteries installed between 1983 and 1986 for the Finnish shipbuilder Wärtsilä on behalf of the Soviet Union. Reliable power is essential to help icebreakers protect shipping year-round to Azov, Rostov-on-Don, and Taganrog. These ports are important gateways between Russia's industrial regions, the Black Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea. Rosmorport's 35 icebreakers clear routes through the ice and escort convoys of vessels up to 210 nautical miles between November and April. The company owns the world's largest icebreaker fleet, performing 10,000 escorts each year.
As the main vessel in the convoys, the performance of safety equipment, such as the backup batteries on board icebreakers, is vital. The frigid winds can cause temperatures to plummet below -30°C, and ice thicknesses can reach 40 to 80 cm due to the shallow depth and low salinity of the Sea of Azov.
Therefore, the batteries must withstand extremely low temperatures, as well as the shock and vibration of icebreaking and storm conditions.
The long service life of the original Saft nickel batteries was primarily due to their robust industrial construction, but also to the professionalism of the icebreaker crews, who meticulously followed the battery operating programs and standards.
One challenge overcome during installation was the limited space available on board the icebreakers. While the function of the new nickel batteries closely matches that of the originals, the size and shape of the new units differ slightly. To ensure a simple and trouble-free installation, experts from Saft's Moscow office worked closely with the icebreakers' technicians in a preliminary phase to identify new locations for the batteries.
The batteries on board the Sea of Azov icebreakers are an excellent example of how Saft's nickel battery technology stands the test of time in the harshest industrial environments and makes a significant contribution to strategically important operations. Sergey Varnavskiy, Key Account Manager in Moscow.
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SAFT batteries for critical engine start and backup power for the Sea of Azov icebreaker
Saft batteries are providing critical engine starting and backup power for icebreakers that protect shipping year-round in Russian ports on the Sea of Azov. The Federal State Unitary Enterprise port operator Rosmorport has turned to Saft to supply replacement batteries for eight icebreakers after the original batteries supplied by Saft provided more than 30 years of service.
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