29 Mar 2017 13:33

Rogozin announces soonest decision to build Leader icebreaker

ARKHANGELSK. March 29 (Interfax) - A decision to begin construction of the Leader next-generation nuclear-powered icebreaker may be made soon, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said.

"It is quite possible this forecast [of Northern Sea Route development] will prompt us to shift from theory to practice and to make a decision to build such a powerful icebreaker," Rogozin said at the International Arctic Forum in Arkhangelsk on Wednesday.

According to United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) General Director Alexei Rakhmanov, the icebreaker project may kick off in late 2018 and take about 3.5 years.