Last year, the Kremlin ordered by decree shipping along the Northern Sea Route to be 80 million tons per year by 2024, and the easiest way to reach such a huge amount is to boost export of oil, gas and other minerals.
However, Russia’s current and next generation fleet of nuclear powered icebreakers will not be sufficient to secure winter-voyages by LNG-tankers on the eastern part of the Northern Sea Route, from Yamal to the Pacific.
Consequently, the much wider and more powerful Leader icebreaker is required.
Read more at The Barents Observer
