Project 21900M is a Russian 18 MW diesel-electric icebreaker family built for Rosmorport after the earlier Project 21900 ships. Vyborg Shipyard built Vladivostok and Novorossiysk, the Murmansk hull was completed through Arctech Helsinki Shipyard, and the later Project 21900M2 program returned to Vyborg with a higher Icebreaker7 classification. This relationship-only entry documents the civil icebreaker production base that sits beside Vyborg's later Project 23550 patrol-icebreaker work.
Project 21900M sources describe a multi-role icebreaker rather than a combatant. The ships combine ice escort and towing with firefighting, assistance to distressed vessels, container-capable deck cargo, and helicopter support.
Rosmorport describes the design as able to move steadily through ice up to 1.5 m thick.
Rosmorport and Ship Technology describe container carriage on the open upper or aft cargo deck, including refrigerated containers with power supply.
The 21900M design carries a HELIDECK class notation, while the M2 follow-on is also reported with a helipad.
Primary support: Rosmorport: Project 21900M hull float out; Rosmorport: Fleet completed projects; Ship Technology: Project 21900M Icebreakers; VPK.name: Project 21900M2 laid in Vyborg.
Open sources treat Project 21900M as an improved 18 MW development of the earlier Project 21900 icebreaker, with Project 21900M2 as a later revised follow-on for Rosmorport.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
| Project 21900 | Baseline Rosmorport diesel-electric icebreaker | Rosmorport lists Moskva and Sankt-Peterburg as 16.5 MW Project 21900 icebreakers built in 2005-2009 before the three 18 MW Project 21900M ships. Sources: Rosmorport: Icebreaking services |
| Project 21900M2 | Revised Icebreaker7 follow-on | VPK.name reports that Project 21900M2 was developed from Project 21900M, with Icebreaker7 classification, 18 MW power, and a 2022 keel-laying at Vyborg Shipyard. |
Project 21900M is retained as relationship-only context because the available sources document civil Rosmorport icebreaking service rather than direct conflict use. Its catalog relevance is industrial: Vyborg Shipyard built Project 21900M icebreakers before later Project 23550 patrol-icebreaker work for Russia's FSB Border Service.
Rosmorport lists three 18 MW Project 21900M icebreakers built in 2012-2016 and used to reinforce icebreaking capacity in the eastern Gulf of Finland.
VPK.name reports a Project 21900M2 Icebreaker7 follow-on laid at Vyborg Shipyard on 16 November 2022.
Project 23550 patrol icebreaker is the related Vyborg-built ice-class security-service program with separate conflict-use sourcing.
Primary support: Rosmorport: Icebreaking services; VPK.name: Project 21900M2 laid in Vyborg; Naval News: Russia launches Project 23550 patrol ship Purga.
Offshore Energy reported that Vyborg Shipyard and United Shipbuilding Corporation signed a contract for two Project 21900M diesel-powered icebreakers.
Sources: Offshore Energy: Vyborg Shipyard inks icebreaker contract
Ship Technology identifies Vladivostok as the first Project 21900M ship, launched in April 2014 and commissioned in the fourth quarter of 2015.
Sources: Ship Technology: Project 21900M Icebreakers
Ship Technology reports Murmansk delivered in December 2015 and Novorossiysk delivered in December 2016, completing the three-ship Project 21900M series by the end of 2016.
Sources: Ship Technology: Project 21900M Icebreakers
VPK.name reported the laying of a follow-on Project 21900M2 diesel-electric icebreaker at Vyborg Shipyard.
Sources: VPK.name: Project 21900M2 laid in Vyborg
