In 2018, the State Atomic Energy Corporation ROSATOM’s subsidiary Rosatomflot (nuclear icebreaker fleet) steered 331 ships of a total gross capacity of 12.7 mio tons, the corporate web page reported, noting that the number of steering operations decreased (in 2017, it was 493 ships) due to completion of the active phase of construction in the port of Sabetta and reduction of flow of vessels carrying cargoes for construction. Besides, as liquefied natural gas shipments from Sabetta started by LNG tankers of Yamalmax class, the gross capacity of ships steered by icebreakers has increased.
Roatomflot continues demonstrating the positive dynamics in key indicators such as proceeds and labor productivity and reported corporate proceeds at RUR 6,806 mio ($107 mio) compared to RUR 6,622 mio a year earlier, while labor productivity went up by 3.6%.
In 2018, the company continued extending residual service life of nuclear icebreakers’ nuclear power installations and lifetime of nuclear maintenance vessels. In 2018 the company commenced performance under Yamal LNG project. A new project was launched at Gydan Peninsula. Altogether, that will ensure workload for Rosatomflot for the next 30 to 40 years.
According to Mustafa Kashka, Roatomflot acting CEO, “Successful implementation of largest national projects in the Arctic depends in many respects on efficient operation of the nuclear icebreaker fleet. In this regard, the decision made to build the third and fourth series universal nuclear icebreakers as well as the icebreaker Leader is vital for the company and entire Northern Sea Route development.”