Upcoming tender for new nuclear icebreaker
The Russian Ministry of Transport might publish a tender for construction of a new nuclear-powered icebreaker before the end of 2010.
Prime Minister Vladmir Putin has earlier instructed the Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Economical development and Rosatom to initiate construction of three new nuclear icebreakers by 2020. The first one should be started in 2011.
According to chief constructor at the construction bureau Aysberg Vladimir Vorobyov, the tender for the first icebreaker might be published by the end of the year, RIA Novosti reports. The vessel will probably be ready in 2016.
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The next generation of nuclear icebreakers, named project 22220, will be able to operate both in rivers and in the Arctic Ocean. New technology will make it possible for the vessel to stick from 8,5 to 10,5 meters, said Vorobyov. It will be put into all-year operation in the Barents, Pechora and Kara Seas.
As BarentsObserer reported, the reactors for the new icebreaker are already under development. The new reactor will use uranium up to 60 times more efficiently than the generators currently in use.
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