The United States lags behind Russia in the production of polar icebreakers that can overcome solid ice several feet thick, iz.ru reports.
The publication clarifies that the Americans today do not have a vessel capable of operating in the Arctic all year round.
Thus, Russia is the only country in the world that has a nuclear icebreaker fleet, thanks to which it can sail in the Arctic all year round.
A unique semi-submersible vessel is currently being designed in Russia to transport large-sized objects along the Northern Sea Route, said Pavel Nasonov, Deputy Director of the Department of Infrastructure Solutions and Development Projects of JSC Logistics Center NFC (Rosatom State Corporation Management Contour Company).
"We plan to build an ice vessel of at least Arc5 class with a carrying capacity of up to 70 000 tons. Technical specifications will be determined after the completion of the preliminary design. The Joint-stock company is working on issues of interaction with potential customers of cargo transportation and is ready to consider proposals for co-investment in the project. The planned date for putting the vessel into operation is 2027," Nasonov said.
Alex Shishlo for Rough&Polished
