Round-the-year navigation in the Northern Sea Route to the Russian Far East will require at least 13 icebreakers, TASS reports citing acting CEO of Rosatomflot Leonid Irlitsa.
Icebreaking fleet is needed both in the eastern and the western parts of the route, he explained. Last year, vessels in the Yenisei area had to wait for icebreakers to escort them. ‘We had to relocate icebreakers from other missions to provide escort for them,’ Irlitsa said.
He added that icebreakers should be available in the areas with traditionally severe ice conditions. According to Irlitsa, at least one icebreaker is necessary for a 500-mile area, leave alone individual icebreaking services.