The ice-breaker Krasin: 100 Years in the History of Russia and the UK

I was delighted to be invited to participate in the opening of a new exhibition in honour of the ice-breaker Krasin at the Presidential Library in St Petersburg on 15 December. The exhibition may have been called ‘The ice-breaker Krasin: 100 Years in the History of Russia’, but as regular readers of my blog will know, the Krasin also has an important place in British history. The Krasin, which was originally known as Sviatogor, has become a very important part of my life in St Petersburg over the past three years, so it was an honour to once again recognise the very special story of this wonderful ship.

The Krasin was built in Newcastle in 1916-17 and participated in many historical events, including rescues in the Arctic and of course the Arctic Convoys of World War Two. It is one of the most famous ships in Russia and is today a floating museum on the River Neva in St Petersburg, just as HMS Belfast is on the Thames in London. My recent blog about the Krasin exhibition at the Discovery Museum in Newcastle provides further background on the amazing history of the ship.

This latest exhibition at the grand Presidential Library was Russia’s own way of recognising this special ship. The directors of the library and of the ship both spoke about the history of the Krasin, and I was pleased to highlight its importance to the UK. It’s worth remembering that none of this would have been possible had some entrepreneurs got their way in the 90s and sold the ship for scrap. We are fortunate indeed that the ship was saved and is now floating in fine shape following its recent visit to the repair yard at Kronshtadt.

I was delighted to present a framed copy of the Discovery Museum publicity advert for the exhibition in Newcastle and also an original water colour of the Krasin taking part in the Arctic Convoys by the Scottish marine artist Jim Rae.

Our own exhibition in Newcastle closed on 18 November. The museum told us that the exhibition had attracted an excellent 34,000 visitors, including many school children who visited during the October mid-term holiday. It’s so important that the next generation, both in the UK and in Russia, know about this history and that it inspires them to make their own new partnerships.

The model of the Krasin has been returned to its home at the School of Marine Science and Technology of Newcastle University. It’s well worth a visit to see the model in the case and the plate which reads: ‘Triple screw icebreaking steamer ‘Sviatogor’ built by Sir W. G. Armstrong, Whitworth & Co. (Shipbuilders) Ltd. Newcastle-On-Tyne for the Imperial Russian Government.’

We now look forward to Loch Ewe in Scotland in May 2017 and another special event to commemorate the 75^th anniversary of the first of the Arctic Convoys. Loch Ewe is where many of the convoys gathered before making the perilous journey to the ports of Murmansk and Arkhangelsk. The Krasin joined the PQ15 convoy not too far away in Glasgow in 1942. As we gather in Loch Ewe next May, we will remember those who took part in the convoys and also their ships that carried them and their vital supplies for the Soviet Union, many assisted by the great ice-breaker, the Krasin.