Russia plans to add 10 icebreakers and 46 rescue vessels to its Northern Sea Route fleet by 2035, enhancing Arctic navigation capabilities.
Russia has announced plans to expand its Northern Sea Route fleet with 10 new icebreakers and 46 rescue vessels by 2035, reported Fort Lauderdale's Maritime Executive.
Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Trutnev stated that the program will include three rescue fleet bases to ensure year-round Arctic navigation. This effort is part of President Vladimir Putin's plan to establish a transarctic transport corridor supported by new infrastructure and cargo bases.
Rosatom, which oversees the Northern Sea Route, reported that Russia currently operates eight nuclear icebreakers, including Arktika, Sibir, Ural, and Yakutiya, which were commissioned between 2020 and 2025. Construction is currently underway on Chukota, Leningrad, and Stalingrad, the latter named in honor of the Soviet victory in World War II. Officials indicated that prefabrication will shorten the build time to 4.5 years.
Each Project 22220 vessel measures 173 meters and is powered by two reactors with a thermal capacity of 175 megawatts. These vessels can reach speeds of 22 knots and break ice up to three meters thick. Design improvements are being incorporated based on operational experience.
Rosatom reported that Northern Sea Route traffic in 2025 matched record levels from 2024, with 3.2 million tonnes of transit shipments and container volumes increasing by 160 percent to 400,000 tonnes. A total of 23 voyages were completed by November, marking a 50 percent increase year on year.
The company forecasts strong growth in 2026, citing the first Chinese containership transits and record voyages by Russia's Aurora Line. Cargo transport along the Northern Sea Route is projected to reach 170 million tonnes by 2035.
