Wedoany.com Report-Apr. 2, Russia’s Rosatom Director General Alexei Likhachev has outlined plans to expand the Northern Sea Route trade, increasing the demand for icebreakers from the current 10 or 11 to between 15 and 17. Speaking at the 6th International Arctic Forum, he addressed the growing cargo volumes and future needs.

The Ural, one of the Project 22220 nuclear-powered icebreakers, in action

Likhachev noted: “The volume of cargo has already amounted to tens of millions of tonnes with last year’s record of nearly 38 million tonnes. Our northern deposits developers tell us to be prepared for hundreds of millions of tonnes ... now we need 11 icebreakers, which we already have (including eight nuclear icebreakers). We must move on to the next stage and plan 100 and 150 million tonnes and 15 to 17 icebreakers instead of 10 or 11. Therefore, we must construct them.” He emphasized the need for a larger cargo fleet, adding: “An icebreaker does not transport cargo, so we need a cargo fleet. I understand that we do not have enough capacity to meet the demand for cargo vessels in advance, and this is where international cooperation is necessary.”

The forum also highlighted expanding ties with China and India on the route, alongside talks of boosting Arctic tourism and hospitality, particularly in emerging “nuclear cities” to attract young workers. Currently, Project 22220 nuclear icebreakers—Arktika, Sibir, and Ural—are operational, while Yakutia, Chukotka, and Leningrad are under construction. Last week, a floating crane loaded key components onto the Chukotka, and the Stalingrad is set to begin construction later this year.

These Project 22220 vessels measure 173 meters long, 34 meters wide, and 57 meters tall from waterline to mainmast. They can break ice up to three meters thick and reach 22 knots in open water. Powered by the RITM-200 reactor, which offers 175 MW thermal capacity and 30 MW at the propellers, they are compact and efficient, with a 40-year service life.

A larger icebreaker, Rossiya, the first of the Project 10510 series, is also in progress. Equipped with two RITM-400 reactors delivering 120 MW to the propellers, it can cut through 4.3-meter ice and clear a 50-meter-wide channel. Its target service date is 2030.

At the forum, Russian President Vladimir Putin learned from Sergey Zybko, Director General of FSUE GlavSevmorput, that 50 vessels and nine icebreakers currently operate on the route. Zybko explained: “It should be noted that the ice conditions have been deteriorating over the past few years. And although we often hear about global warming, current research by the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute does not confirm this.” He added that no major ice cover changes are expected until 2050, based on satellite and AI analysis.