The Russian government is in advanced discussions with India's Cochin Shipyard (CSL) and Reliance Naval and Engineering (RNEL; formerly Pipavav Shipyard) for the construction of four new non-nuclear-powered icebreakers for operation by Russian state atomic energy company Rosatom.
If the newbuilding contracts are approved, CSL and RNEL will build two icebreakers each for deployment on the Northern Sea Route connecting Asia and Europe.
The initial discussions with Russia began in October, when a joint working group of experts from both Russia and India was established to finalise the negotiations for the shipbuilding contracts.
Observers believe Russia has turned to India for some of its shipbuilding requirements following the imposition of economic sanctions by the United States and other Western countries.
Indian media had earlier said that construction of the four ships will be undertaken at one state-owned and one privately owned yard. However, CSL and RNEL were only recently revealed to be the selected shipyards.