Medvedev promised to prevent a shortage of nuclear-powered icebreakers by 2030

By 2030, Russia may face a shortage of icebreakers due to the aging of the nuclear fleet, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev said on November 18 at a meeting of the Interdepartmental Commission of the Security Council on Ensuring Russia’s National Interests in the Arctic.

Medvedev explained that half of the group of six ships of the icebreaker fleet under the control of the state corporation “Rosatom”(operator of the Northern Sea Route; managed by FSUE Atomflot”) was built using outdated technologies, their service life has been repeatedly extended and by 2026-2027. they have already exhausted their resources. “If they are not replaced in the near future with new ships of modern designs, and such projects are known to exist, they are being implemented, then by 2030 there is a risk of facing a shortage of icebreaking capacities,” RIA Novosti quotes him as saying.

The shortage is likely due to delays in the construction schedule and delays in contracts, Medvedev explained. The deputy chairman of the Security Council stressed that Russia would not allow a shortage of these vessels. According to him, in 2020-2021. Two icebreakers were put into operation, and another vessel will soon be put into operation. By the end of this year, it is planned to conclude a contract for the construction of two more icebreakers, Medvedev added.

In August, the government approved a strategic document for the development of the Northern Sea Route (NSR) – a roadmap until 2035 worth almost 1.8 trillion rubles. The activities of the plan are divided into five key areas: cargo base, transport infrastructure, cargo and icebreaking fleet, safety, management and development of shipping.

The government still stakes on the development of the Arctic and the NSR, considering this route a priority. !On November 6, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin at the Transport of Russia forum recalled the need to achieve the target of 80 million tons of cargo transportation along the Northern Sea Route by 2024. Rosatom managers at various times spoke about plans to transport via the NSR in 2022. 32-33 million tons of cargo.

Total funding for the development of the icebreaker fleet for 2022–2030 is estimated at 539 billion rubles. In 2022–2030 five universal nuclear icebreakers of project 22220 will be commissioned. They should replace the Soviet icebreakers Vaigach, Taimyr, Yamal and 50 years of Victory. The lead icebreaker Arktika of project 22220 was commissioned in October 2020, the second serial icebreaker Sibir at the end of 2021. The third icebreaker Ural will be commissioned in 2022. Earlier it was reported that its sea trials are scheduled to begin in September. In 2022–2027 it is also planned to build a more powerful head icebreaker of project 10510 Leader, and in 2023-2030. – four more icebreakers.

The contract for the construction of the Arktika icebreaker was signed back in 2012, the contractor is Baltiysky Zavod (part of the United Shipbuilding Corporation, USC). The cost of the project is 37 billion rubles, the funds were allocated from the federal budget. Initially, the Arktika was planned to be handed over to Atomflot in 2017, but the delivery date was postponed to 2019, then another year. The main problem in the construction of the Arktika was steam turbine plants: initially they were supposed to be built by the Ukrainian Kharkov Turbine Plant, but after 2014 the order was transferred to the St. Petersburg Kirov-Energomash (KEM). USC also reported problems with the manufacture of electric propulsion systems.

The delivery date for Sibir was also shifted, it was originally planned to be handed over to Atomflot back in 2019, but it was postponed for two years by decision of Russian President Vladimir Putin. USC explained that during the construction process, problems arose with the adjustment of working design documentation, the unsatisfactory pace of electrical installation work, as well as the delay in the delivery and installation of the same steam turbine units.

The shortage of icebreakers has been repeatedly discussed at Rosatom. Vyacheslav Ruksha, deputy general director of the state corporation, head of the NSR directorate, noted last year that by 2030, for year-round navigation along the NSR, Russia needs to have seven, and preferably 12-14 icebreakers. According to him, by this time only 5 icebreakers will be in operation, with which it will be possible to extend navigation along the NSR only from 8 to 9 months.

At the same time, problems with construction are observed not only in terms of icebreakers. Russian shipbuilders do not have time to build fishing vessels under the investment quota program (Vedomosti reported this on April 21). The terms for the construction of such ships were extended by two years, Vedomosti wrote on May 13.

CEO USC Alexei Rakhmanov at the Transport Week 2022 forum on November 16 told reporters that the corporation plans to hand over to customers 17 out of 21 civilian vessels, the delivery of which was scheduled for 2022. Several dry cargo ships of the RSD59 project will not be delivered on time, as there were no necessary supplies have been delivered. The transfer of a number of fishing vessels to customers is also delayed, since specialists did not come to commission them, Rakhmanov explained.

Representative USC told Vedomosti that the risk of a shortage of a nuclear-powered icebreaker fleet is primarily associated with “increased demand for icebreaker assistance along the Northern Sea Route.” The construction of the icebreakers Yakutia and Chukotka (both – project 22220) continues according to the schedule, the corporation noted. But, according to the interlocutor from USC, there were delays in deliveries for individual components and components during the construction of nuclear icebreakers. About what accessories there is a speech, in corporation did not specify. “Baltic Shipyard has now been switched to a two-shift schedule,” the USC concluded.

The cost of building Yakutia and Chukotka is 100 billion rubles, 45 billion rubles. of which allocated from the budget, the rest – the funds of Rosatom. “Yakutia” is planned to be handed over in 2024, “Chukotka” – in 2026.

Rosatom declined to comment.

Dmitry Baranov, a leading expert at Finam Management, notes that icebreakers are one of the most difficult types of ships to build, so the postponement of their delivery “is not surprising.” The expert suggests that delays in construction may be associated with sanctions, which have reduced the supply of parts and components of foreign production. “Also, the postponement of the delivery of icebreakers may be associated with the intention to replace foreign equipment with domestic ones,” Baranov added.

Sergey Grishunin, managing director of the NRA rating service, believes that the main problem in the construction of nuclear icebreakers is the lack of an element base for radio navigation equipment, as well as control and measuring equipment due to sanctions. “In addition, sometimes there are complaints about the quality of work of individual units that require redesign, there are some problems with high-quality stainless steel,” Grishunin adds.

Baranov also admits that additional funding may be allocated for the construction of icebreakers, including for the production of domestic equipment for them. Grishunin is sure that it is too early to talk about additional financing, but traditionally, a year-long shift in the delivery date of a vessel leads to a rise in its cost by 7-10%. Based on this assessment, it can be assumed that if the delivery of Yakutia and Chukotka is postponed for a year, their cost may increase to 110 billion rubles.

According to the director of the consulting company “Gekon” Mikhail Grigoriev, now the delays in the construction of icebreakers are insignificant. The main problems in assessing the need for new icebreakers, according to the expert, are the uncertainty of the flow of large Arctic projects to the east, as well as the lack of a clear strategy and tactics for icebreaking escort of ships in the eastern sector of the NSR.