Experience in building and operating reactor systems for civilian ships

The steps taken in our country to develop reactor systems for several gener ations for ships for the nuclear-powered civilian fleet, starting with the icebreaker "Lenin," are described. The characteristics of the OK-150, OK-90 0, and KLT-40 systems are briefly presented; the results of their operation for the period from 1959 to 2000 are presented. Problematic questions asso ciated with further use of the nuclear-powered fleet in the Arctic, includi ng increasing the service life of the main equipment, are examined. The pro spects for using the ship reactor system KLT-40S for floating thermoelectri c power plants and power and desalination systems for remote coastal region s of Russia and other countries in the world nle determined on the basis of the experience gained in operating nuclear-powered icebreakers.