27 May 2015 15:18

Russia to complete construction of state-of-the-art nuclear icebreaker by 2017 - Deputy PM Rogozin

MOSCOW. May 27 (Interfax) - Russia has started the construction of a new nuclear-powered icebreaking fleet, considering that the five icebreakers it possesses now should be decommissioned within the next few years, says Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin.

"The [level of the] lead icebreaker's readiness is 18%, and it should be ready by 2017," Rogozin said at President Vladimir Putin's meeting with government members on Wednesday.

"Hence, the icebreaker that we laid down yesterday will be ready by 2019 and the second serial icebreaker by 2020," he said.