Vladimir Rusanov (Russian: Владимир Русанов) was a Soviet icebreaker in service from 1964 until 1988. It was one of twelve Project 97A icebreakers built by Admiralty Shipyard in Leningrad in 1961–1971.

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History
Soviet Union
Name	Ledokol-7 (Ледокол-7) (1964–1966) Vladimir Rusanov (Владимир Русанов) (1966–1988) Vlad (1988)
Namesake	Vladimir Rusanov
Owner	Black Sea Shipping Company
Port of registry	Odessa, Ukrainian SSR
Builder	Admiralty Shipyard (Leningrad, USSR)
Yard number	769
Laid down	30 March 1964
Launched	25 July 1964
Completed	28 December 1964
Decommissioned	23 May 1988
In service	1964–1988
Identification	IMO number: 6508171[1]
Fate	Broken up
General characteristics [2]
Class and type	Dobrynya Nikitich-class icebreaker
Displacement	2,935 t (2,889 long tons)
Length	67.7 m (222 ft)
Beam	18 m (59 ft)
Draught	5.35 m (17.6 ft)
Depth	8.3 m (27.2 ft)[3]
Installed power	3 × 13D100 (3 × 1,800 hp)
Propulsion	Diesel-electric; three shafts (2 × 2,400 hp + 1,600 hp)
Speed	15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Range	5,700 nautical miles (10,600 km; 6,600 mi) at 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph)
Endurance	17 days
Complement	42

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In the mid-1950s, the Soviet Union began developing a new diesel-electric icebreaker design based on the 1942-built steam-powered icebreaker Eisbär to meet the needs of both civilian and naval operators. Built in various configurations until the early 1980s, the Project 97 icebreakers and their derivatives became the largest and longest-running class of icebreakers and icebreaking vessels built in the world. Of the 32 ships built in total, the unarmed civilian variant Project 97A was the most numerous with twelve icebreakers built in 1961–1971.^[2]

Project 97A icebreakers were 67.7 metres (222 ft) long overall and had a beam of 18 metres (59 ft). Fully laden, the vessels drew 5.35 metres (17.6 ft) of water and had a displacement of 2,935 tonnes (2,889 long tons). Their three 1,800-horsepower (1,300 kW) 10-cylinder 13D100 two-stroke opposed-piston diesel engines were coupled to generators that powered electric propulsion motors driving two propellers in the stern and a third one in the bow. Project 97A icebreakers were capable of breaking 70 to 75 centimetres (28 to 30 in) thick snow-covered ice at very slow but continuous speed.^[2]

The seventh of twelve Project 97A icebreakers was laid down at Admiralty Shipyard in Leningrad on 30 March 1964, launched on 25 July 1964, and delivered to the Black Sea Shipping Company on 28 December 1964. Initially named simply Ledokol-7 (Russian: Ледокол-7), Russian for "icebreaker", it was renamed Vladimir Rusanov in 1966 after the 19th and early 20th century Russian explorer. The icebreaker was stationed in Odessa and operated in the Black Sea.^[2]

Vladimir Rusanov was taken out of service in May 1988^[2] and, after its name was shortened to Vlad, sold to Turkey for scrapping.^[4]