23 Apr 2020 14:24

Atomflot signs contract with Zvezda to build Leader nuclear icebreaker

MOSCOW. April 23 (Interfax) - Rosatomflot and the Zvezda Shipbuilding Complex have signed a contract on construction of the Leader nuclear icebreaker, state corporation Rosatom said on Twitter.

"On April 23, remote signing of the contract for construction of the Leader nuclear icebreaker project 10510 took place in Murmansk and Vladivostok between FSUE Atomflot and LLC Zvezda Shipbuilding Complex," the press service for the state corporation's Northern Sea Route directorate said in a statement. Under the conditions of the contract, the vessel is planned to be commissioned in 2027.

"The vessel's commissioning will make it possible to [...] guarantee safe and regular pilotage in the eastern region of the Arctic, ensure round-the-clock navigation in the offshore areas of the Northern Sea Route, and open up new possibilities for commercial high-latitude routes," Atomflot General Director Mustafa Kashka was quoted in the statement as saying.

As reported, in mid-January the Russian government approved the resolution on construction of the Leader nuclear icebreaker project. The document envisages allocation of 127.576 billion rubles from the budget from 2020-2027 for construction of the vessel. The commissioning deadline is 2027. The governmental client is Rosatom, and the builder is FSUE Atomflot.

The nuclear powered vessels of this project are designed to be the most powerful icebreakers in the world, with a capacity of 120 MW. They will be required for ensuring round-the-clock navigation via the Northern Sea Route. It is planned to build three Leader icebreakers.

At present, Iceberg Central Design Bureau, based in St. Petersburg, is developing the project for Leader's construction.