Cutting a path in the ice

Russia started to update its icebreaker fleet. It is estimated that the country will need 45 icebreakers by 2030 versus 32 vessels operating today. Meanwhile, by the time of the number only 14 will be in operation. Thus, in 18 years Russia will have to build 31 ice-breakers.   

Northern course

Almost all of the most promising Russian projects for development of hydrocarbon resources are related to the Arctic. The most ambitious of them are Shtokman gas condensate deposit, Prirazlomnoye oil field, Yamal gas production project. It will not be possible to insure safe shipping along the Northern Sea Route without reliable icebreaker assistance. In addition, icebreakers are required for smooth operation of a number of key ports of Russia.

It is no coincidence that Russia has always been a world leader in the construction of icebreakers, and almost all of the nuclear-powered icebreakers in the world were designed and build at domestic shipyards. The only exceptions are nuclear-powered shallow-draft "Taimyr" and "Vaigach", which were built at Wartsila shipyard in Finland. However, the vessels’ nuclear power plants were installed in Russia. Currently, the country has 32 operating diesel-electric icebreakers, most of which, excluding four icebreakers of Far Eastern Shipping Company (FESCO), are managed by FSUE Rosmorport. Nuclear-powered icebreakers (seven vessels) are managed by Atomflot of Rosatom Corp.
There were 15 diesel-electric icebreakers and one nuclear-powered deployed in the Gulf of Finland during the 2011-2012 winter navigation, 5 diesel-electric icebreakers in the White Sea, 5 and 3 diesel-electric icebreakers in Azov and Caspian Seas, respectively, 4 FESCO owned icebreakers in the Far East Basin. Besides, there are nine sea-going icebreakers operating on the Northern Sea Route, including five nuclear and four diesel-electric icebreakers.

Nevertheless, this is not enough. The 2010-2011 winter period revealed the urgent need to beef up the icebreaking fleet in the Gulf of Finland, and the past winter season – to do the same in the southern basin (the Azov Sea, the Kerch Strait). Icebreakers are also needed to assist navigation at the ports of the Caspian, North and Far Eastern basins.

According to the Russian Ministry of Transportation, the country will need at least 45 icebreakers in 2030. But, most of the existing icebreakers will be decommissioned by then, and there will be only 14 ships left.

Thus, if Russia does not start to actively building icebreakers today, the country will have to drop plans for the Arctic offshore projects implementation, and the key ports will halt operations in the winter season.

Things have started moving

Nuclear-powered icebreakers are the most powerful ships, which are necessary for navigation in the harsh conditions of the Northern Sea Route, as well as to support the diesel-electric icebreakers when required (for example, in the Gulf of Finland).

The only classification society in the world, which has in its register the civilian ships with nuclear power plants, is the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS). The entire nuclear-powered fleet is built in accordance with the Rules for the classification and construction of nuclear-powered ships and offshore facilities and Rules for the classification and construction of vessels for nuclear maintenance and service. These unique rules were developed by specialists of PC in conjunction with Russian research institutions. There has been not a single accident so far in the nuclear-powered vessels operation related to the environment pollution or hazard to human life.

In June 2012, the Russian government issued an order to finance the construction of the lead multipurpose icebreaker of capacity of 60 MW (UAL-60). Atomflot and Baltic Shipyard (Baltiysky Zavod) signed a contract for the construction of the RS class lead multipurpose icebreaker of new generation of Project 22220. The 60MW icebreaker will be able to sail in the ice with thickness of 3 meters. The vessel features advanced double-draft capability, which makes it suitable for operations both in the Arctic waters, and in the mouths of the northern rivers. There will be another three serial icebreakers of the RS class.

Under the turn-key contract worth RUB36,959bn, Baltic Shipyard is to complete the order by December 30, 2017 and dock the newbuild at the berth of FSUE Atomflot in Murmansk. Keel-laying was scheduled for November 2013, launching - for November 2015. The shipyard also plans to lay down the new generation 25MW diesel-powered icebreaker of Project 22600 on 10 October 2012. The vessel will be built under the technical supervision of RS. The class Icebreaker 8 means that she can perform icebreaking operations in the coastal Arctic areas during the winter and spring with ice thickness of up to 3 m and in the summer season.

Besides, the United Shipbuilding Corporation signed a contract for three diesel-electric icebreakers of capacity of 16 MW. Keel-laying of the first ship of the series will be held at Vyborg Shipyard on October 17, 2012.

Also, Kaliningrad-based Yantar Shipyard on July 6, 2012 held a keel-laying ceremony for the multipurpose salvage icebreaking vessel of Project 70202. The newbuild delivery is scheduled for December 2013. The innovative vessel will be employed in the Gulf of Finland for oil spill response and rescue operations. The double acting vessel features asymmetric hull and three controllable-pitch screws and rudders, enabling the vessel to run both ahead and astern, as well as sideway to escort merchant ships in the ice. The icebreaker will be equipped for oil spill response, firefighting and environmental monitoring. She is able to sail in 1-meter thick ice, and cut a 50-m width canal moving sideway.

Vitaly Chernov.