Text:
Photo: Nuclear-powered icebreaker Yamal.
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".
Combat Capability [42%],
Role and Missions,
Structure of the Navy,
in-service ships, surface ships, submarines, chronology.
| Tell a friend | Print version |
|---|
Russia to acquire new icebreakers
04/25/2011 |
 |
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.