Federal budget to allocate 20 bln rubles for icebreaker construction over 3 yrs - Levitin
ARKHANGELSK. Sept 22 (Interfax) - The Russian Federal Budget includes 22 billion rubles in allocations over three years for the construction of new model icebreakers, Transport Minister Igor Levitin said at the International Arctic Forum in Arkhangelsk on Thursday.
"A new nuclear icebreaker, which is planned for next year, will be installed with safety and rescue systems. It will carry out search and rescue operations at sea," Levitin said.
He also said that it is necessary to resolve the issue of maintaining communications along the Northern Sea Route in the coming years. Rigs and relays are currently being set up. "The Northern Sea Route will be wholly set up with the GLONASS system," Levitin said.
In order to ensure operations at northern latitudes, the Sobet Port will be developed. "The port will be built so that shallow-draught vessels on the Northern Sea Rote can transport cargo, which is developed in this region," Levitin said.
Furthermore, approval has been made on a law, which will regulate ship operations in the Arctic. Levitin said that, in accordance with the draft law, Russia's Federal Tariff Service (FTS) will regulate assessments on icebreaking and pilot sea operations.
"With this law, we grant the opportunity for our future transport partners to see the game rules, which will appear on the market," the minister said.
Levitin said that NOVATEK, Gazprom and companies involved with the development of the Shtokman field will probably take advantage of the Northern Sea Route.
In addition, Levitin presented a proposal to State Duma Deputy Artur Chilingarov to introduce the draft law on the Northern Sea Route in the lower chamber so that the operations on the route are legally protected in 2012.
The Transport Ministry plans to order three nuclear and three diesel-electric icebreakers from Russian shipbuilding enterprises. This decision was made following a meeting of the Russian Marine Board in Naryan-Mar on July 6, 2011.