Atomflot announces entering new business – construction of LNG-powered icebreakers
FSUE Atomflot starts developing a project to build a series of LNG-powered icebreakers, IAA PortNews correspondent cites Mustafa Kashka, Acting General Director of Atomflot, as saying at the XI Regional Public Forum-Dialogue “Cooperation for Sustainable Development of the Arctic”.
“We are entering a new business for us – construction of icebreakers running on liquefied natural gas. As of today, the world’s only icebreaker of this kind is in Finland and its endurance is only ten days. We want a normal Arctic icebreaker with shaft power of 40 MW minimum”, said Mustafa Kashka.
He reminded that current demand for icebreakers in the Arctic region is as follows: five multi-purpose nuclear-powered icebreakers (three of them are already under construction with a decision expected on the forth and the fifth ones), three Leader-type icebreakers allowing to start round-the-year navigation on the Northern Sea Route (NSR).
When speaking at the Forum, Vyacheslav Ruksha, Deputy General Director of Rosatom – head of the Northern Sea Route Directorate, added that “it was ordered to start building a lead nuclear-powered icebreaker of Leader type at Zvezda shipyard”. He emphasized that materials and equipment of domestic origin will make 92% of its cost.
Mustafa Kashka also said that Atomflot is taking participation in the projects of NOVATEK having signed contracts covering a period of up to 2040. Besides, the work is underway to provide icebreaker support to oil shipments from Novoportovskoye field of Gazprom Neft. The company is also looking into servicing the projects on coal shipments from the Taimyr peninsula (up to 30 million tonnes per year). “Pilot shipments of coal have already been held. I think the project will become fully operational in a year or two”, he said.
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