Russia Targets 160 New Arctic Class Ships For Northern Sea Route By 2030

Rosatom, Russia’s nuclear powered icebreaker manufacturer, sees a need for 160 high-ice-class vessels to operate on the Northern Sea Route (NSR) by 2030 to export products from Arctic projects, according to a presentation by Vyacheslav Ruksha, Deputy General Director of Rosatom and Director of the NSR Directorate. Russia is the only country with a fleet of nuclear-powered icebreakers.

Ruksha made the comments during an expert council session on the Northern Sea Route in the State Duma. According to the presentation, for cargo transportation along the NSR, the estimated need for the additional fleet for coastal navigation is estimated at 50 vessels of the Arc 4-7 ice classes. These ships are equipped with cargo cranes for cargo operations on non-equipped shorelines.

Another 10 universal vessels (up to 25,000 tonnes) of Arc 5 ice class are needed for “northern supply”. These ships can provide year-round operations in ice to 120 cm (1.2 meters) thick.

The bulk carrier segment will require 3 medium-tonnage vessels (up to 40,000 tonnes) of Arc 4 class and 25 large-tonnage bulk carriers (up to 100,000 tonnes) of Arc 5 class.  Arc-4 and Arc-5 class vessels can handle ice in excess of 120cm thick, including older pack ice. 

The demand for Arc 7 class container ships by 2030 is estimated at 15 vessels, including 9 vessels with container capacity of up to 5,000 TEU and 6 vessels of medium tonnage (up to 700 TEU). These vessels are for summer use and capable of handling ice to 100cm thick.

The tanker fleet for LNG and gas condensate transportation along the NSR in 2023 consisted of 17 vessels, and by 2030 the fleet demand in this segment is estimated at 39 vessels.

In addition, 11 oil tankers of large tonnage (up to 120,000 tonnes) must be built. As at 2023, the NSR’s oil transportation fleet consists of 7 medium-tonnage oil tankers up to 40,000 tonnes. Currently, 30 vessels are operating on the NSR, 33 vessels are under construction, and 97 vessels must be built by 2030. The majority of these constructions will be handled by Russian shipyards.