With the construction of the new nuclear-powered icebreaker ‘Rossiya’, Russia is continuing its ambitious Arctic strategy. Once completed at the end of 2029, the Project 10510 ‘Lider’ vessel is set to become the world’s most powerful icebreaker and play a key role in the development of the Northeast Passage.
The ‘Rossiya’ is being built at the Zvezda shipyard in the Primorsky Krai region. The vessel measures almost 210 metres in length and 47.7 metres in width. With a shaft power of 120 megawatts (163,154 PS), it significantly outperforms current Russian icebreakers. The ‘Rossiya’ is powered by two modern RITM-400 nuclear reactors, each with a thermal output of 315 megawatts. This will enable the vessel to break through ice more than four metres thick and operate reliably even under extreme Arctic conditions.
The icebreaker’s main task will be to secure the Northeast Passage along the Russian Arctic coast. This route, approximately 4,600 kilometres long, connects Europe with the countries of the Asia-Pacific region and is considered significantly shorter than traditional shipping routes via the Suez Canal. However, as the route is covered in ice for most of the year, merchant ships often rely on the assistance of icebreakers. The ‘Rossiya’ is intended to ensure safe passage there all year round and to guide larger cargo ships through difficult ice conditions.
Russia is deliberately opting for nuclear-powered icebreakers. These have significantly greater power than diesel-electric vessels, can be deployed for many years without refuelling, and are particularly well-suited to long-term operations in remote polar regions. By way of comparison: the modern icebreakers of Project 22220 have a power output of 60 megawatts (81,600 PS), whilst the most powerful Russian diesel-electric icebreaker, the ‘Viktor Tschernomyrdin’, achieves only 25 megawatts (34,000 PS).
With the construction of the ‘Rossiya’, Russia is not merely pursuing economic objectives. The development of the Northeast Passage is intended to promote international trade and shorten transport times between Europe and Asia.
Heiner Kubny, PolarJournal