PD-50: Difference between revisions

|Ship caption=''PD-50'' (left) in [[Roslyakovo, Murmansk Oblast|Roslyakovo]], August 2016

|Ship length={{convert|330|m|ftftin|abbr=on}}

|Ship beam={{convert|88|m|ftftin|abbr=on}}

|Ship draught={{convert|6.116|m|ftftin|abbr=on}}

'''''PD-50''''' ({{lang-langx|ru|ПД-50}}), Soviet designation '''Project 7454''', was a Russian large [[dry dock#floatingFloating|floating dry dock]] built at the [[Götaverken]] Arendal shipyard in [[Gothenburg]], Sweden and commissioned in the 1980s. At the time, it was the world's largest floating dry dock and used primarily to service the ships and submarines of the [[Northern Fleet]].

The {{convert|330|m|ftftin|adj=mid|-long}} long and {{convert|79|m|ftftin|adj=mid|-wide}} wide floating dock was owned by {{ill|[[Shipyard No. 82|ru|82-й судоремонтный завод}}]] and stationed at [[Roslyakovo, Murmansk Oblast|Roslyakovo]], near [[Murmansk]].<ref>{{cite news |title="Звездочка" продолжит ремонт "Адмирала Кузнецова" в соответствии с графиком|trans-title=Zvezdochka Ship Repair Center will continue to repair "Admiral Kuznetsov" as scheduled |url=https://www.interfax.ru/russia/635650 |accessdateaccess-date=5 November 2018 |agency=[[Interfax]] |date=30 October 2018 |language=ru |quote=ЧП с плавучим доком ПД-50 (принадлежит 82-му судоремонтному заводу)}}</ref> In November 2018, the dock sank after a firepower outage while holding the [[Russian aircraft carrier]]/[[aircraft Admiralcruiser]] Kuznetsov{{ship|Russian aircraft carrier|Admiral Kuznetsov]]||2}}.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gallagher|first=Sean |title=Russia’sRussia's only aircraft carrier damaged as its floating dry dock sinks |url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2018/10/russias-only-aircraft-carrier-damaged-as-its-floating-dry-dock-sinks/ |accessdateaccess-date=5 November 2018 |work=[[Ars Technica]] |date=30 October 2018 |quote="Due to interruptions in the supply of electric power to the PD-50, the floating dock dived out in an off-design mode."}}</ref>

In March 1978, [[Götaverken]] Arendal shipyard in [[Gothenburg]], Sweden was awarded a contract for the construction of the world's largest floating dry dock for the [[Soviet Union]].<ref name="tungmetal">{{cite book|url=http://www.migrationinstitute.fi/files/pdf/julkaisuja-sarja/j19-isbn-978-952-7167-44-1-tung-metall-lamer-migrationsinstitutet-2017.pdf|last=Lamér|first=Inkeri|title=Tung Metall – Finska fartygsbyggare i Göteborg|isbn=978-952-7167-43-4|publisher=Siirtolaisinstituutti|year=2017|page=38|language=sv|access-date=2019-04-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407191825/http://www.migrationinstitute.fi/files/pdf/julkaisuja-sarja/j19-isbn-978-952-7167-44-1-tung-metall-lamer-migrationsinstitutet-2017.pdf|archive-date=2019-04-07|url-status=dead}}</ref> While the company had previously built mainly [[oil tanker]]s and [[bulk carrier]]s, it was struggling for new orders after demand for one of its main productproducts had dwindled following the [[1973 oil crisis]], and bidding for the dry dock was one of the shipyard's attempts to diversify the shipyard'sits portfolio.<ref name="novgaz">{{cite news|last=Shiryaev|first=Valery |url=https://www.novayagazeta.ru/articles/2018/12/06/78835-zaleg-na-dno|title=Залег на дно|work=[[Novaya Gazeta]]|issue=136|pages=10–11|date=67 December 2018|accessdateaccess-date=7 April 2019|language=ru|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507081114/https://www.novayagazeta.ru/articles/2018/12/06/78835-zaleg-na-dno|archive-date=2021-05-07|url-status=dead}}</ref> With an agreed-upon delivery time agreed asof 18 months from signing the date of contract signing,<ref name="tungmetal" /> the work was split between two shipyards in order to speed up the construction: Götaverken Arendal would buildbuilt five of the seven sections while the nearby [[Eriksbergs Mekaniska Verkstad]] would supplysupplied the remaining two parts, and; the sections would bewere joined together afloat using [[underwater welding]].<ref name="GP">{{cite webnews|last=Hansen Siilin|first=Love|url=http://www.gp.se/nyheter/39-%C3%A5rs-olycka-f%C3%B6r-arendals-stolthet-1.10847882|title=39 års olycka för Arendals stolthet|date=18 November 2018|work=[[Göteborgs-Posten]]|accessdateaccess-date=7 April 2019|url-access=registration|language=sv}}</ref> The floating dock was named ''PD-50'' ({{lang-langx|ru|ПД-50|links=no}}); "PD" being short for "Plavuchiy Dok" ({{lang-langx|ru|Плавучий док}}; literally "|lit=floating dock"|links=no}}).

In August 1979, the nearly-finished ''PD-50'' was towed to [[Pelagic zone|open sea]] for trials. During the final test, which involved finding out how fast the submerged dock could be deballasted, two [[ballast water]] tanks partially collapsed due to underpressure. The floating dry dock was hastily towed back to Arendal with visible denting on the shell plating and the shipyard workers scrambled to fix the damage. The repairs were completed in early September, and ''PD-50'' was handed over to the customer.<ref name="tungmetal" /><ref name="novgaz" /><ref name="GP" />

On 22 September 1979, ''PD-50'' began its delivery voyage to [[Murmansk]] under tow by two Dutch [[tugboat]]s, ''[[{{ship||Smit Rotterdam]]''}} and ''[[{{ship||Smit London]]''}}. On 3 October, after sailing around the [[Coastline of Norway|Norwegian coast]], the floating dry dock broke free in a storm and was blown ashore on the Soviet side of the [[Norway–Russia border|Norwegian border]].<ref name="tungmetal" /><ref name="GP" /> The grounding of the brightly-illuminated ''PD-50'' was witnessed by [[Soviet Border Troops|Soviet border guards]] who later described the incident as if a small city had appeared from the sea and, only to be driven on the rocks by the storm.<ref name="novgaz" />

While the damage to the grounded dry dock was extensive, ''PD-50'' was deemed repairable. After refloating, it was towed first to [[Kirkenes]], Norway and later to a Norwegian shipyard in [[Stord]]. The repairs included lifting ''PD-50'' fully out fromof the water using pontoons<ref name="novgaz" /> and replacing 4,000{{nbsp}}tonnes of steel.<ref name="GP" /> In September 1980, one year after the grounding, ''PD-50'' finally reached Murmansk.<ref name="tungmetal" />

On 29 December 2011, the Russian [[Delta-class_submarineclass submarine#Delta IV (Project 667BDRM Delfin) 7 boats|Delta IV-class]] nuclear submarine {{ship|Russian submarine|Ekaterinburg|K-84|3}} caught fire while being docked in ''PD-50''. The fire was extinguished by partially submerging ''PD-50'' twice whilewith the K-84 wason atop ittop.<ref name="TNI">{{cite news |last=Roblin |first=Sebastien |title=A Huge Floating Drydock Sank and Nearly took Russia’sRussia's Only Aircraft Carrier with It |url=https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/huge-floating-drydock-sank-and-nearly-took-russia’s-only-aircraft-carrier-it-35117 |accessdateaccess-date=5 November 2018 |work=[[The National Interest]] |date=3 November 2018 |quote=the submarine Yekaterinburg caught fire on PD-50 in 2011 while loaded with nuclear missiles and had to be flooded twice to put out the blaze.}}</ref>

In 2013, the Russian oil company [[Rosneft]] took over Shipyard No. 82 and its assets, including ''PD-50'', in preparation offor turning the old naval shipyard into a base for the company's Arctic operations. This has caused an outrage in the naval circles, as the shipyard was one of the few in Russia with facilities capable of docking the country's largest surface vessels.<ref>{{cite webnews|last=Staalesen|first=Atle |title=Murmansk awaits Rosneft’sRosneft's investments|url=https://thebarentsobserver.com/en/industry-and-energy/2016/12/murmansk-awaits-rosnefts-investments|work=The Independent Barents Observer|date=7 December 2016|accessdateaccess-date=7 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite webnews|last=Staalesen| first=Atle |title=Navy gives way to oilmen in Murmansk shipyard|url=https://thebarentsobserver.com/en/2018/08/navy-gives-way-oilmen-murmansk-shipyard|work=The Independent Barents Observer|date=7 August 2018|accessdateaccess-date=7 April 2019}}</ref>

On 30 October 2018, Russian aircraft carrierthe {{ship|Russian aircraft carrier|Admiral Kuznetsov||2up=yes}} was damaged when ''PD-50'' suddenly sank under it,<ref>{{cite webnews |last1last=Staalesen |first1first=Atle |title=Aircraft carrier is damaged as dry dock sinks |url=https://thebarentsobserver.com/en/security/2018/10/aircraft-carrier-damaged-dry-dock-sinks |work=The Independent Barents Observer |date=30 October 2018|access-date=2018-11-08}}</ref><ref name="RT">{{Cite news|url=https://www.rt.com/russia/442648-russian-dock-crane-carrier/|title=Russia’s largest floating dock sinks, while nation’s sole aircraft carrier still inside|work=RT International|date=30 October 2018|access-date=2018-10-30}}</ref> andcausing one of the dock's 70-ton cranes crashedto crash onto the ship's flight deck.<ref>{{cite news |last=Rainsford|first=Sarah |title=Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov damaged by crane |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-46030113 |accessdateaccess-date=5 November 2018 |publisher=[[BBC News]] |date=30 October 2018 |quote=Rescuers are searching for a missing ship-worker. Four others needed medical attention after falling into the icy sea. Russian officials insist the damage is "not critical" but the 70-tonne crane caused a gash on the Kuznetsov's deck of up to 5m (16ft).}}</ref> One shipyard worker went missing and four others required medical attention, one of whom later died inat the hospital.<ref name="RT"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-kuznetsov-worker-dies-injuries-dry-dock-sinking/29606832.html|title=Worker Dies From Injuries Sustained In Sinking Of Russian Dry Dock|publisher=[[Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty]]|date=18 November 2018|accessdateaccess-date=2019-04-08}}</ref>

In July 2019, {{ill|Zvezdochka Ship Repair Centre|ru|Центр судоремонта «Звёздочка»|lt=Zvezdochka Ship Repair Center JSC}} and St.[[Saint Petersburg]] company Investments Engineering Construction (I.I.S.) signed a contract for reconstruction and modernization of the [[Shipyard No. 35]] located in Murmansk. As part of the RUB20 billion (US$311.5 million) deal, two adjacent dry docks at the plant will be merged into onea jointsingle dock by a demolition ofdemolishing a partition between them. and wallsWalls, [[Slipway|slipways]] and other dock equipment will be modernized. After the modernization, it will be the largest dry dock in Russia with length of 335 m, width of 60 m and depth of 70 m, capable of docking Russia's sole aircraft carrier ''Admiral Kuznetsov'', as well as other countryof Russia's largest vessels, such as the battlecruiser {{ship|Russian battlecruiser|Pyotr Velikiy||2}}.<ref>{{cite webnews|last=Staalesen|first=Atle |url=https://thebarentsobserver.com/en/security/2019/05/murmansk-gets-russias-biggest-dry-dock|title=Murmansk gets Russia’sRussia's biggest dry dock|websitework=thebarentsobserver.comThe Independent Barents Observer|date=28 May 2019|accessdateaccess-date=2 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite webnews|last1=Vedeneyeva|first1=Anastasia|last2=Kostrinsky|first2=German|url= https://bmpdwww.livejournalkommersant.comru/3707626.htmldoc/4031913|title=ЗаключенПод контракт«Адмирала наКузнецова» реконструкциюсломают сухих доков настенку|work=[[Kommersant]]|issue=122 35-м судоремонтном заводе в Мурманске|websitepage=bmpd.livejournal.com7|date=15 July 2019|accessdatelanguage=ru|access-date=2 December 2019}}</ref> As of December 2019, the work on reconstruction of the shipyard was underway.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bmpd.livejournal.com/3859185.html|title=На 35-м судоремонтном заводе ведутся активные работы по реконструкции сухого дока|website=bmpd.livejournal.com|date=2 December 2019|accessdateaccess-date=2 December 2019|language=ru}}</ref>{{unreliable source|date=February 2021}}

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