Technical data[304]

Construction yard:

PM-50, PM-78, PM-124 and PM-128 were built in Severodvinsk from 1960 to 1966. The remaining four ships are refitted Finnish freighters. Refitting work was probably undertaken in Severodvinsk. The minimum age of these vessels is 30 years. [305]

Storage capacity

There are four storage compartments capable of holding 80 containers for a total of 560 fuel assemblies. This amounts to three reactor cores.

On barges of the 326 type, each fuel assembly is stored separately, whereas the upgraded 326 M type barges can store 5 to 7 fuel assemblies in each container. The designation 326 M is given to those barges which have been refitted to accommodate several fuel elements in each container.

The vessels also contain three storage tanks for liquid radioactive waste. One tank has a volume of 125 m³ and is intended for waste of medium to low activity. The two remaining tanks of 75 and 30 m³ respectively, are meant for highly active waste with an activity of 370 MBq/l (10^-2 Ci/l).

Individual vessels

Northern Fleet:

PM-50.

This barge is based at Olenya Bay. Due to the elevated level of radiation in the storage tanks, it has been proposed to remove PM-50 from service. However, this has not been done despite the danger of continuing to use the vessel for transporting spent nuclear fuel. [306] The equipment for monitoring shipboard levels of radiation is not functioning. [307] The repair work which was commenced in 1993 has still not been completed.

PM-78.

Based at Olenya Bay.[308]

PM-124.

Moored at Zvezdochka shipyard in Severodvinsk. [309]

PM-128.

The barge is based at Olenya Bay.[310]

Pacific Fleet:[311]

PM-48.

Built in 1960. Based at the Rybachky naval base in Kamchatka. Inactive.

PM-124.

Built in 1962. Based at the Rybachky naval base in Kamchatka. Inactive.

PM-80.

Built in 1964. Type 326 barge, based at Primorye. Inactive.

PM-42.

Built in 1966. Type 326 barge, based at Rybachky base in Kamchatka.

Illustration, 1 kb.

Endnotes

[304] Perovsky, V. A., Handbook presented to the Murmansk County Committee for Ecology and Natural Resources, 1992. Return
[305] Office of Technology Assessment, Nuclear Waste in the Arctic. An Analysis of Arctic and Other Regional Impacts from Soviet Nuclear Contamination, 1995. Return
[306] Documentation of a Gosatomnadzor inspection, 1994. Return
[307] Ibid. Return
[308] Jane`s Intelligence Review, December 1993. Return
[309] Handbook On implementation plan for handling of nuclear waste and spent fuel on Severodvinsk territory, Summer 1994. Return
[310] Jane`s Intelligence Review, December 1993. Return
[311] Office of Technology Assessment, Nuclear Waste in the Arctic. An Analysis of Arctic and Other Regional Impacts from Soviet Nuclear Contamination, 1995. Return