Originally named the Svyatogor, the Krassin has certainly left a long history in her wake. Built in Newcastle upon Tyne in England and launched in 1916, the icebreaker was the most powerful vessel of its type in the world right up to the advent of the nuclear-powered era in the 1950s. The Krassin was primarily deployed for pathfinding, exploration and rescue missions, but also served as a warship during World War 2. At the end of hostilities, she was disarmed and returned to peacetime duties, and crunched through her last icefloe in 1998. Since then, the Krassin has bobbed contentedly at anchor on the banks of the Neva, insofar as anything that weighs 10,000 tonnes can be said to 'bob'.
The museum does not allow single visitors, so you will need to wait for one of the tours. These are conducted every fifteen minutes, so waiting isn’t really an issue. We must warn you that the Krassin is not as adapted to tourists as some other museums in St. Petersburg: everyday tours are only given in Russian, and information in English is, for now, scarce. Certainly, just being on board is an unforgettable experience in itself. But you also can book an excursion in advance in English, German, Spanish or Italian. Via phone (+7) 812 325 35 47.
