Arctic Russia

New Generation of ice-breakers

In an interview in мурманск-вестник.ru the Director General of Atomflot talks about the future of the Russian ice-breaking fleet and its ability to operate the Northern Sea Route.  Presently, there are four nuclear powered ice-breakers in operation: «Арктика»: «50 лет Победы», «Ямал», «Россия» и «Советский Союз».  These will be replaced eventually by an additional four – one in 2016 and the rest by 2025.   The present number cannot provide universal coverage of the northern sea route during winter conditions but it is foreseeable that coverage could be extended from June to November.   Year round universal coverage would require a new type of ship, whose design is not yet clear.  The Director also suggests that global warming does not obviate the need to develop the most powerful class of ice-breaker and that anecdotal evidence from actual sailors suggests that the Arctic ice is thicker this year then previous years.