Ivanov: Russia to get new atomic icebreaker by 2015-2016

05.10.2010 Members of Maritime Board supported the idea to build new icebreakers for Arctic works; the project of an advanced nuclear-powered icebreaker which is to take the Northern Sea Route in 2015-2016 has been already developed, reported Russian Vice-Premier Sergei Ivanov after the board's session in Murmansk.

"We have the project of a modern icebreaker which conforms to the most advanced world standards. As is known, the U.S. makes such ship jointly with Canada. We're going to build even larger icebreaker by ourselves. This ship will be needed in 2015-2016, and we should lay it down at present. All the board's members supported this development manner of Russian nuclear-powered ice-breaking fleet", said Ivanov.

He added that all icebreakers in inventory of state corporation Rosatom are presently used at sea. Nuclear icebreaker Rossiya sailed off on Saturday to deliver drifting station SP-38, and that indicates that there is plenty of work in Arctic, pointed out Ivanov.

"This year, a vessel of Sovkomflot covered the Northern Sea Route and practically proved that cargo shipment in summer is not only technically possible but cost effective, too. We expect that Russian-built vessels would try this route next year, and that will be a significant event", underlined the deputy prime minister.