Russia’s need for year-round petroleum export along the Northern Sea Route is the main driver behind the futuristic icebreaker.
Last year, the Kremlin ordered by decree shipping along the Northern Sea Route to be 80 million tons per year by 2024, and the easiest way to reach such huge amount is to boost export of oil, gas and other minerals....MUCH MORE
However, Russia’s current and next generation fleet of nuclear powered icebreakers will not be sufficient to secure winter-voyages by LNG-tankers on the eastern part of the Northern Sea Route, from Yamal to the Pacific.
Consequently, the much wider and more powerful Leader icebreaker is required.
Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov now confirms his government by mid-March will issue an order with go-ahead for the icebreaker project, news agency TASS reports.
According to Borisov, the Zvezda shipyard in Bolshoi Kamen in the Far East will be upgraded with docking facility for building the enormous vessel. Rosneft will be in charge of the shipyard reconstruction in a consortium with Rosneftgaz and Gazprombank....
