A package of new icebreakers to be built for Azov and Caspian seas
The construction of a series of shallow-draft icebreakers of new project for the Caspian and Azov seas will commence in 2014, Rosmorport press release said.
Besides, a keel-laying of the new generation 25MW diesel-electric icebreaker of Project 22600, ordered for Rosmorport, will be held tomorrow, October 10th. The icebreaker will be deployed on the Northern Sea Route together with other icebreakers to escort convoys of merchant ships. The vessel will be also escorting cargo ships in shallow areas of the Arctic and in the mouths of rivers (to assist offloading onto the fast ice), towing vessels and other floating facilities in ice and open waters, to participate in rescue operations, in firefighting on vessels and oil drilling rigs.
The icebreaker is scheduled for completion in November 2015. The icebreaker of Project 22600 is a powerful diesel-electric icebreaker with a wide range of capabilities. The construction will be funded through the federal program for icebreaker fleet upgrade. The program also includes the construction three 16 MW icebreakers by the end of 2015.
Federal State Unitary Enterprise Rosmorport was founded by the Russian Government in 2002 for management, maintenance, creation and expansion of the federal assets at Russian ports. Rosmorport is a backbone company of the country’s port industry, which is responsible for safety of navigation, providing pilotage service. The company manages and operates the world's largest icebreaker fleet of 26 diesel-electric icebreakers. Rosmorport employs more than 5,500 people in 16 regions of Russia.