Sinking of Russian Ship in the Mediterranean Could Delay Leader-class Nuclear Icebreaker ‘Rossiya’ The loss of two reactor hatch covers for theRossiyanuclear icebreaker in a cargo vessel sinking in the Mediterranean spells unwelcome news for Russia. The cargo shipUrsa Majorwas traveling from St. Petersburg to Vladivostok when it experienced an engine room explosion and subsequently sank.
Unusually Thick Sea Ice to Make for Challenging Shipping on Northern Sea Route This Summer Unusual amounts of multiyear ice in the Laptev and Siberian Sea could lead to difficult summer navigation along parts of Russia’s Northern Sea Route this summer, says the country’s Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute.
New US Icebreaker Delayed Until 2027, Russia Orders 6th and 7th Nuclear Icebreaker The United States’ new polar-class icebreaker faces further delays pushing delivery from the original timeline for 2024 into 2027. The Coast Guard is now looking to purchase an existing commercial icebreaker for $150m to bridge the gap. Meanwhile, Russia’s Rosatom signed construction contracts for two more nuclear icebreakers.
Russian Government Approves $1bn for Construction of 6th and 7th Arktika-class Nuclear Icebreakers Russia continues modernizing and expanding its fleet of powerful nuclear icebreakers in an effort to realize year-round shipping along the Northern Sea Route. With the sixth and seventh newArktika-class icebreakers Russia will operate up to a dozen nuclear icebreakers before the end of the decade.
Russia Launches New Nuclear Icebreaker as it Looks East for Northern Sea Route Shipping In a well-orchestrated ceremony, Russia raised the flag on the newly completed nuclear icebreakerUralwhile launching the completed hull of the sister shipYakutiainto the water nearby. With oil and gas exports shifting from Europe to Asia as a result of sanctions, Russia’s icebreaker fleet will be key to the country’s Arctic hydrocarbon strategy.
U.S. to Speed Up Its Icebreaker Program, May Develop Nuclear Arctic Vessels The U.S. government aims to accelerate its Arctic icebreaker program and is evaluating the need for armed vessels and the feasibility of constructing nuclear icebreakers.
Russia’s Rosatom and Zvezda Shipyard Sign Contract for World’s Largest Nuclear Icebreaker TheLeader-class nuclear icebreaker is designed to ensure year-round navigation on the eastern parts of the Northern Sea Route by 2027. Questions remain about the project’s ambitious timeline as Russia’s nuclear icebreaker program has faced ongoing delays and technical issues in recent years.
