Russia to acquire new icebreakers

25.04.2011 In May Russian Ministry of Transport will issue a tender for a new super-powerful icebreaker, said deputy transport minister Vladimir Olersky appearing at international forum named "Russia's Maritime Capital St. Petersburg. Transport Safety".

As for him, last winter was hard time for navigators when dozens of vessels were blocked in the Gulf of Finland expecting for icebreaker escort; obviously, present-day icebreaking fleet needs renovation.

The transport ministry has already developed a program providing that Russia would acquire 4 new icebreakers until 2015, pointed out Olersky.

"We suppose they would be two or three icebreakers with power of 16-18 megawatt and one 25-megawatt icebreaker", he said.

The new icebreaker-building program was approved by Russia's Ministry of Economic Development. So, the funds for construction of a new powerful icebreaker will be appropriated; the tender is to be issued in May.

Recall that despite warm weather and deiced Neva River, the Gulf of Finland is still ice-covered. That is why all icebreaking fleet of the port – 13 vessels – keeps on escorting.