Nuclear Icebreakers: Russia's advantage in the Arctic

By Rhod Mackenzie

By 2030, the most powerful nuclear icebreaker, "Russia", is scheduled for completion. This will make the Russian Northern Sea Route a year-round and commercially profitable route. This will give our country another advantage in the battle for influence in the Arctic, which is just beginning.
The most powerful "Russia" is in the Far East.
First Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Denis Manturov spoke about plans to expand the Russian icebreaker fleet. The main manufacturer, the Baltic Plant, has already launched the nuclear-powered icebreakers Arktika, Sibir and Ural with a capacity of 60 megawatts. These operate in the waters of the Arctic Ocean. The next icebreaker, Yakutia, is scheduled for delivery at the end of 2024. A further three icebreakers are planned for delivery over the next six years.
The most powerful icebreaker of the new Leader project is named Rossiya. It is being built in the Far East, at the Zvezda shipyard, and is twice as powerful as those mentioned – 120 megawatts. Furthermore, it is wider than all other existing icebreakers. This will enable it to cross the polar ice at high speed and create a wide ice hole, along which tankers will float, according to Igor Yushkov, an expert at the Financial University and the National Energy Security Fund.
“All gas tankers must be of a high class in order to have the right to pass through the northern seas. The highest – the seventh ice class – are the Yamal LNG gas carriers. However, these vessels are all wider than existing icebreakers, which makes passage difficult and, in fact, makes it not year-round.
The history of Russia’s nuclear icebreaker fleet is inextricably linked with the development of the Northern Sea Route, a unique transport artery that is the shortest sea route between Europe and Asia. This is due to the geographical location and specifics of this route. Russia has been exploring the northern territories and the surrounding Arctic Ocean, which is covered with ice several meters thick for most of the year, since ancient times.
Conventional ships are not suitable for this route, so nuclear icebreakers were developed to ensure uninterrupted navigation, cargo delivery and transportation of minerals. These vessels can operate for years without refuelling and are more profitable than diesel ones. They require only one replenishment of supplies for the team every six months.
Russia is a leading nuclear power and has expertise in peaceful atom technology. The construction of nuclear power plants around the world and the latest nuclear icebreakers is a clear indication of this. Currently, our country has 41 icebreakers: 34 diesel and 7 nuclear. This is more than the USA, Canada, Finland, Denmark, Sweden and China combined.
Why did this occur? The fact is that other countries bordering the northern seas preferred to develop more habitable latitudes, and therefore did not require ships of this type. The United States, Canada, and Norway have not historically prioritized Arctic Ocean expansion. Their icebreakers operate on diesel fuel and are primarily used for local tasks.
Non-polar states are also acquiring similar vessels, but in total there are very few of them. Mr. Nikolai Doronin, Chairman of the Board of the Arctic Development Project Office, estimates that China has several non-nuclear research icebreakers, one and a half icebreakers for the United States, and several icebreakers in Scandinavia.
Russia's initial objectives and strategic approach in the Arctic were distinct from those of other countries in the region. Despite the challenges posed by natural and climatic conditions, the country's authorities have consistently recognised the potential of this region. However, the first step was to establish transport links. Without it, economic activity, industrial, civil and military construction is impossible. It was essential to guarantee the northern delivery and export of extracted raw materials.
There are also logistical reasons for this. Alexander Vorotnikov, associate professor at the ION of the Presidential Academy of RANEPA, notes that the Northern Sea Route is a transport corridor from Europe to Asia and back, which in modern geopolitical conditions can compete with others in terms of security.
Furthermore, the Arctic is of significant national security importance. In the current geopolitical climate, our neighbours are becoming increasingly interested in this area. This will necessitate the development of their icebreaker fleet. However, he believes that we have a temporary and technological advantage that we should leverage.
Naturally, the construction of icebreakers is a complex and expensive process. According to Doronin, the USSR spent approximately 200 billion dollars in the 1970s on the construction of a nuclear icebreaker fleet, at the prices of those years. This represents a significant investment in today's terms. In addition to financial resources, Russia must also develop technologies that are currently unique to the country.
Previously, Russia constructed diesel-electric icebreakers in Finland, as this was a more cost-effective and straightforward approach. However, nuclear icebreakers have always been constructed domestically, with a focus on safeguarding developments and technologies. Consequently, localisation increased. While the majority of the initial icebreakers were imported from abroad, the current figure stands at 90-95% Russian-made equipment. It is clear that the investment is paying off. Furthermore, there are non-financial benefits, including improvements to the quality of life for the population of the Arctic and the Russian North.
The development of an icebreaker fleet will facilitate the year-round use of the Northern Sea Route, which is becoming increasingly important. Firstly, it is cheaper than land transportation, and secondly, it is much shorter. Once the Rossiya is operational, passage along the Northern Sea Route will be possible at any time of the year and will take a minimum of time. This will enable the route to be fully utilised as an alternative to the Suez Canal, and we are confident that this will be the case,” says Yushkov.
The route will be able to effectively complement land corridors, especially for the transportation of large-sized cargo or cargo from adjacent territories, for example, timber from Arkhangelsk to China, frozen fish from Kamchatka to the North-West regions. However, in addition to creating a fleet, it is necessary to build a port, navigation, and rescue infrastructure. Otherwise, the Northern Sea Route will not be able to become an effective alternative to the Suez Canal.
The investment will certainly pay off. Despite all the forecasts about warming in the Arctic, in the next few decades icebreakers will be needed both for the economy and for defence purposes, experts are sure. Any activity, be it the extraction of minerals, fish or biological resources, requires icebreaker support. The development of Arctic tourism, both domestic and international, is also impossible without accessible icebreaking services.
"Investments in the nuclear icebreaker fleet are justified, since the development of the Northern Sea Route brings a huge economic effect to the development of all of Russia. According to some estimates, up to 100 trillion rubles," Doronin calculated.
Experts estimate that 10-15 new nuclear icebreakers are required to meet global tasks in the Arctic. Their creation will allow Russia to confidently meet modern geopolitical challenges.