Press release dated           31 Oktober 2005

Today Baltiysky Zavod JSC commenced on mooring trials of nuclear powered icebreaker 50 Let Pobedy. The trials will be carried out without putting to sea and are aimed at checking of all ship's systems and machinery operation. Delivery of the vessel to the customer is scheduled for 2006.

All main outfitting activities were completed onboard the vessel by now. These include installation of power plant and turbogenerators. In September shore power supply was provided for onboard equipment and machinery and their trial run was executed.

Before starting of mooring trials, Murmansk Maritime Shipping Company, which shall obtain the icebreaker under their trust management, have formed the vessel's manning. The crew will be accommodated in fully furnished comfortable cabins. All supply systems required for the crew life were lead to compartments already.

Specialists of Baltiysky Zavod JSC are prepared to carry out loading of reactor core (nuclear fuel) onboard the icebreaker in early January 2006. Afterwards the shipyard will undertake combined mooring trials when the first start of the onboard nuclear reactor will be executed. Sea trials are to be conducted in the Baltic Sea followed by the vessel's delivery to the customer.

It is worth saying that icebreaker 50 Let Pobedy was launched as far back as 29 December 1993. Then its construction was stopped for some time due to lack of financing. In late 90-ies building budgeting was partly resumed and in February 2003 a contract was signed between BZ and FGU State Directorate for Sea Transport Development Programs for outfitting of the vessel. This document stipulates federal budget financing of atomic icebreaker outfitting within 2003-2005. Representatives of Russian Maritime Register of Shipping and Murmansk Maritime Shipping Company are supervising construction work quality onboard the vessel.