By 2030, Russia may face a deficit of icebreaker capacity. This was stated by Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev during a meeting of the Interdepartmental Commission of the Security Council of the Russian Federation on issues of ensuring the national interests of the Russian Federation in the Arctic. The meeting discussed a number of additional measures to develop the nuclear icebreaker fleet, the press service of the Security Council of the Russian Federation reports.
As D. Medvedev noted, the nuclear icebreaker fleet group is currently fulfilling the tasks assigned to it. Six nuclear icebreakers are operating. "Two of them, despite all the difficulties, were put into operation in 2020 and 2021. A new modern vessel of this class is planned to be accepted soon."
At the same time, there are problems that need to be addressed now, in particular, the aging of the nuclear icebreaker fleet. Half of the group managed by the state corporation Rosatom consists of vessels built using insufficiently modern technologies. “By 2026-27, these icebreakers will have exhausted their service life. If they are not replaced with new vessels of modern designs in the near future, by 2030 there is a risk of facing a deficit of icebreaker capacity. We know how politicized the issue of using the Northern Sea Route and the presence in the Arctic in general is now. How many interests collide there. How often they try to push us away from the center field, despite the fact that Russia is the main Arctic state, to make decisions without our participation. This is why a deficit of the icebreaker fleet is unacceptable. To prevent such a situation, in accordance with the instructions of the president, nuclear icebreakers are being built in St. Petersburg and Primorsky Krai,” D. Medvedev recalled.
According to him, by the end of this year it is planned to conclude a state contract for the construction of two more vessels of this class. "We need to realistically assess the future cost of construction, the level of competence of suppliers and equipment manufacturers, taking into account the sanctions imposed by Western countries," the deputy chairman of the Security Council emphasized.
"A number of systemic problems have already emerged during the construction and commissioning of the above-mentioned icebreakers. There are problems associated with missed deadlines due to late deliveries, a shortage of qualified personnel, and the need for additional funding. The delay in the construction of nuclear icebreakers has also been noted now. It has not yet been overcome," said D. Medvedev.
The structure of cargo transportation along the Northern Sea Route has also changed, he noted. According to forecasts, in 2024, cargo traffic in the Arctic latitudes may increase compared to preliminary plans and will grow. "This is due to a number of reasons, including sanctions, and the reorientation of Russian energy exports to the countries of the Asia-Pacific region, and a number of other factors. Accordingly, the need for nuclear icebreakers to escort ships will increase. It is necessary to intensify the construction of non-nuclear, diesel-electric icebreakers, which will ensure the passage of ships near large terminals and free up nuclear icebreakers for work in the eastern sector of the Northern Sea Route," D. Medvedev concluded.
Information taken from the site https://seanews.ru/
