The response from Russia’s Ministry of Transport addressed to the inquiry from Andrei Kutepov, who chairs the Economic Policy Committee of the Federation Council, confirms a four-year delay to the Icebreaker-7 project caused by sanctions. The update clarifies the project timeline and the current status of construction.
The project notes that the 18 MW icebreaker, designed to operate in the North-West region including the Baltic Sea, had a contractual completion target of December 10, 2024. The plan now anticipates final work completion in 2028, reflecting shifts in the schedule influenced by external restrictions.
The document emphasizes the vessel’s intended role in servicing ports within the North-West Basin, with particular attention to the Baltic maritime corridor. The total budget for Icebreaker-7 stands at roughly 10.5 billion rubles. At the time of reporting, project readiness was reported to be only about 1.38 percent, with foundational work already in place and the hull preparation underway.
Previously, Rosatom outlined ambitions to advance a new generation of nuclear icebreakers for Russia, signaling a broader program to boost Arctic and coastal capability through nuclear propulsion and enhanced icebreaking capacity.
Regarding the broader fleet, the fifth and sixth units of the Project 22220 class are slated for construction in Russia. These vessels are planned to be laid down at the Baltic Shipyard in St. Petersburg, as part of ongoing efforts to expand the nation’s icebreaking fleet for challenging sea routes and seasonal ice conditions.