ST. PETERSBURG, November 28. /TASS/. Fire safety violations, committed by employees of a contractor firm, are seen as a possible cause of fire at the Viktor Chernomyrdin icebreaker under construction in St. Petersburg, the shipbuilder said.

"According to preliminary version, the fire at the icebreaker’s boiler room broke out due to violations of safety rules by employees of a contractor company, who were working there," the Admiralty Shipyard’s press service said.

A commission was set up to establish the cause of the blaze.

Flames that broke out at about 19:00 Moscow time partially engulfed the vessel’s third and fourth decks, spreading to an area of 300 square meters (out of 1,200 square meters in total). The fire damaged some electric wiring, equipment and wall panels in technical areas. It was put out at 22:15 Moscow time.

According to earlier reports, two people were injured. One of the victims was hospitalized and later transferred to intensive care in critical condition, the other refused to go to hospital and was examined by doctors on site.

The icebreaker has been under construction since December 2012, and will be world’s most powerful non-nuclear-powered icebreaker. It is expected to operate on the Northern Sea Route.