The Murmansk based fleet of nuclear powered icebreakers was assigned to Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom last year. Earlier, the world’s only fleet of civilian nuclear powered vessels was managed by Murmansk Shipping Company, since 1996 a private stock company.
- The fleet has fully repaid its tax debt, which had brought it to the verge of bankruptcy, Kiriyenko told Putin. Kiriyenko was thankful for the 1,8 billion roubles government support to the icebreakers operation.
Kiriyenko continued by informing the Prime Minister that the personnel are happy with the transfer of the fleet from a private company to a state corporation. –Salaries were raised 61% during the last year, Kiriyenko could tell.
Rosatom’s director also informed Vladimir Putin the a new icebreaker model is in the works , the design will be completed this year. The Transport Ministry has ordered a new icebreaker in accordance with next year’s federal programme. The service life of existing icebreakers is being extended. This means we will ensure stable operation of Russia’s nuclear icebreaker fleet and fulfilment of the national strategic goals in the Arctic, Sergei Kiriyenko said according to a transcript from the meeting.
As BarentsObserver reported last week, Russia’s nuclear powered icebreaker fleet celebrated its 50 year anniversary.
