Lenin
Lenin is a nuclear-powered icebreaker operated by Soviet Union, powered by 2 OK-150, later OK-900 of about 171 MWt each. Retired.
The world's first nuclear-powered surface vessel of any kind, and the first civil nuclear ship. Its original three OK-150 reactors were damaged in 1965-67 and replaced. Decommissioned 1989; now a museum in Murmansk.
| Reactor | OK-150, later OK-900 |
|---|---|
| Reactors per vessel | 2 |
| Thermal output | 171MWt each |
| Fuel enrichment | not disclosed |
| Refuelling | not disclosed |
| Category | icebreaker |
|---|---|
| Role | civil |
| Operator | Soviet Union |
| Country | Russia |
| Vessels in class | 1 |
| In service from | 1959 |
| Status | Retired |
Other icebreakers
| Class | Enrichment | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Arktika class | - | Retired |
| Project 10510 Lider | - | Under construction |
| Project 22220 (LK-60) | HALEU | Operating |
| Taymyr class | HALEU | Operating |
Lenin in context
It is one of 5 icebreaker programs on record, 2 of them operating and 2 retired, and one of 13 naval reactor programs from the same country.
Each of its reactors is rated about 171 MWt; across the 5 icebreaker programs with a stated rating the median is 171 MWt, and this one ranks 3rd.
With 2 reactors per vessel, the combined thermal rating is about 342 MWt.
It entered service in 1959, 67 years ago; the icebreaker programs on record entered service between 1959 and 2028, and this one is the earliest of 5.
| Measure | Lenin | Median of icebreaker programs | Standing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thermal power per reactor (MWt) | 171 | 171 | 3 of 5 |
| Entered service | 1959 | 1989 | 1 of 5 (earliest first) |
Worked out from the entries on this site only, so a figure compares Lenin with what is recorded here, not with everything that exists. An entry with no value for a measure is left out of that measure's ranking and median.
Sources
- World Nuclear Association, Nuclear-Powered Ships · retrieved 2026-09-07
How these sources are used, including the corrections applied on top of them and what is deliberately left blank · download the underlying data