USC to build two more nuclear-powered icebreakers

Russia’s United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) has won an order for two nuclear-powered icebreakers for operation by the country’s Rosatom atomic energy agency.

The vessels are expected to be handed over during the 2024-2026 timeframe. They will join three other nuclear-powered icebreakers, which were also built by USC, in service with Rosatom.

The two-icebreaker order has a total value of approximately 100 billion rubles (US$1.5 billion), making these the most expensive non-military ships to be built in Russia.