Investment in new icebreaking ships in Russia may exceed RUR 160 bln ($2.4 bln), TASS agency reports, noting it is expected the new icebreaking fleet will be financed from extrabudgetary sources.
The investment plans were laid out in the draft comprehensive Long Distance Transport Infrastructure Modernization and Extension Plan until 2024 (submitted by the Economic Development Ministry). It is noted that plans of building new icebreakers to be used in the Arctic areas are part of a broader project of the Northern Sea Route development envisaging cargo transportation growth up to 80 million tons a year. As TASS notes, several projects of building new icebreakers for the Arctic region are in the process of implementation already.
The State Atomic Energy Corporation ROSATOM, for instance, is pursuing project 22220 aimed at building new generation ships. In May 2015 keel-laying of Arctica icebreaker took place at Baltic Shipyard. The cost of Arctica is estimated at about RUR 47 bln ($702 mio).
Leader icebreaker may become another project of the kind (its implementation has not been started yet). If implemented, the project will allow year-round navigation along the Northern Sea Route. Building Leader icebreaker will require investment of some RUR 70 bln ($10.1 bln).
As Invest Foresight reported earlier, availability of icebreakers is one of the key factors for ensuring further Northern Sea Route’s development. There are eight icebreakers (including four nuclear ones) operating along the waterway now. According to Rosatomflot (Russian Nuclear Fleet, subsidiary of ROSATOM), for the Northern Sea Route to function yearlong, 13 icebreakers will be required.