On September 22, Russia’s first of a series of nuclear icebreakers “Sibir” was launched at the Baltic Shipyard (part of the United Shipbuilding Corporation).
The 173-meter-long new nuclear-powered ship is part of Russia’s Project 22220, which aims to renew the national fleet of nuclear icebreakers.The vessel and its sister “Arktika”, launched in June last year, are expected to become the largest and most powerful icebreakers in the world, as they are capable of breaking ice up to three meters thick.
“I am convinced that this powerful icebreaker will significantly strengthen the potential of the Russian nuclear fleet and will contribute to strengthening Russia’s position as a great maritime power,” stated Nikolai Tsukanov on behalf of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Further, the President of the United Shipbuilding Corporation Alexei Rakhmanov, speaking of the difficulties in the construction of icebreakers project 22220, hailed the progress in the development of the Arctic latitudes and the Northern Sea Route.
The vessel delivery is scheduled in November 2020.
