Page 13 - Журнал Sozvezdye Review - «СОЗВЕЗДИЕ» #37

«Если учесть прогноз по
каботажным и транзитным
перевозкам, то показатель,
установленный президентом,
будет выполнен»
“Combined with the projected figures
for coastal and transit shipping, the
target of 80 million tons can well be
achieved”

water area, the year-round navigation is already hap- – Given the growing volume of carriages, the
pening there. Around 1.3 million tons of transit car- construction of new ships and icebreakers should be
go were transported along the NSR in 2020. As to the started in a timely manner. In 2026-2027, the domes-
eastern sector, its underdeveloped infrastructure – ice- tic nuclear icebreaker fleet is expected to experience
breaker support, ice-reinforced fleet, communica- an official generation change. The yards are keeping
tion – is a major obstacle to year-round navigation. up with their schedules, so there’s no reason to expect
But, despite the difficult weather conditions and other that customers may have problems with icebreak-
factors, we are moving on according to plan towards ing support in the western sector of the NSR. Last
a modern infrastructure that would meet the highest year witnessed the launch of the Arktika nuclear ice-
of the international standards. One essential that we breaker of Project 22220, LK-60Ya. Its dual-draught
need is an icebreaker capable of operating in the se- design makes it suitable for seas and northern rivers.
vere Arctic ice conditions – the icebreaker like Proj- Her sister, Sibir, is scheduled for commissioning in
ect 10510 LK-120, Rossiya, which is scheduled to be 2021/2022. A total of five icebreakers of her type are
delivered around 2027. Once the navigation and the going to be built before 2026. Negotiations are in pro- SOZVEZDYE #37
cargo flow are a reality in the eastern sector, we can cess as to two more, and four LNG-fueled icebreak-
start to see the volume of the transit traffic increase. ers. As I mentioned earlier, the forerunner in this se-
The earliest we can expect the Northern Sea Route ries – Rossiya, Project 10510 – is expected to join the стратегия
to start transiting international cargoes is 2030. But fleet in 2027. Her capacity of 120 megawatts and ca-
before that happens, we must show that the NSR is a pability to plough through 4-meter-thick ice will give strategy
safely operating shipping route. And we need to show Russia a clear technological edge in the polar region.
it by the example of our own cargo flows. Taking into account Rosatom’s program for extend-
– Can you tell more about the icebreakers that ing the life of the existing icebreakers, the off-period
you need to enable safe assistance? Can shipping is unlikely to happen. Being able to meet our part-
companies face a shortage of icebreakers to assist ners and customers’ expectations is the most impor- 11
them in the Arctic basin? tant thing for us.