Russian govt expands development plan for Northern Sea Route

MOSCOW. May 2 (Interfax) - Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has signed a decree adding new projects to the Northern Sea Route development plan for the period until 2035, according to a report published on the government's website on Tuesday.

"The idea is to design domestic samples of the most significant marine associated equipment that is necessary for the construction of icebreakers, ice-class cargo vessels and emergency rescue vessels," it said.

The plan includes projects to develop designs of such equipment and to start its production, according to the report. The Industry and Trade Ministry, the Rosatom State Corporation, the Transport Ministry, and the Emergency Situations Ministry will oversee these efforts.

The Industry and Trade Ministry and the Finance Ministry will also be required to draw up proposals regarding the size and sources of financing for manufacturing competitive domestic marine equipment.

The development plan for the Northern Sea Route was approved by the Russian government in August 2022. A separate section of the plan is devoted to building ice-class vessels, including the Leader flagship icebreaker project, and a fleet of 46 emergency rescue vessels. The overall financing for more than 150 projects in the plan will total almost 1.8 trillion rubles.

"The Northern Sea Route is the shortest maritime link between the European part of Russia and the Far East. The route is located fully within Russia's territorial waters and exclusive economic zone, which is particularly important in conditions of external sanctions pressure," the Russian government said.