Russia Collaborates with India on Construction of Non-Nuclear Icebreakers for Northern Sea Route
Russia is reportedly enhancing its shipbuilding cooperation with India by considering two Indian shipyards for the construction of four non-nuclear icebreakers, with an estimated total cost of $713 million. These vessels are intended to join Rosatom’s icebreaking fleet, which operates along the Northern Sea Route (NSR).
According to Indian media, discussions are ongoing with one state-owned and one private shipyard for this project. Rosatom, Russia’s nuclear agency, oversees the development of the NSR, including managing its ice breaking fleet.
Source: USC
In light of tightening Western economic sanctions, Russia’s domestic shipbuilding sector is facing significant challenges due to supply chain disruptions. During a two-day state visit to Moscow in July, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed the intention to strengthen cooperation with Russia across various sectors, including nuclear power and shipbuilding. Rosatom has identified India as a crucial partner for developing the NSR, particularly as India seeks efficient imports of Russian oil, coal, and liquefied natural gas (LNG).
The order for the icebreakers is seen as a follow-up to this agreement between the Indian and Russian governments. While specific details of the order are still under wraps, a joint working group comprising experts from both sides has already been established to finalize negotiations, with its first meeting taking place last Thursday. Additionally, India is advocating for its seafarers to receive training in polar waters.
As India intensifies its support for its emerging shipbuilding sector, it stands to gain from Russia’s search for foreign shipyards for new orders. Given that most shipyards in China, South Korea, and Japan are fully booked until at least 2028 and European shipyards are unable to accept Russian orders due to sanctions, India is in an advantageous position to assist.
A team from Rosatom has visited India to assess the suitability of its shipyards. Rosatom’s public relations manager for South Asia stated:
“The NSR is a universal platform for developing multifaceted cooperation in a number of areas, and we see great potential for cooperation with India in various areas, from developing cargo flows to building shipyards.”
Recent data from the Centre for High North Logistics (CHNL) indicates that the NSR is experiencing record levels of transit voyages as trade between China and Russia increasingly shifts to this route. As of September 30, the NSR recorded 79 transit voyages, translating to approximately 2,38 million tons of cargo for the summer-autumn navigation season, with about 95 % of this cargo moving from Russia to China.
Looking ahead, Russia aims to transport around 150 million tons of cargo through the NSR by 2030 and plans to construct 50 icebreakers and ice-class vessels to support this goal.
