More than 7 billion rubles will be spent on the construction of the lead hydrographic vessel designed to operate in the water area of ​​the Northern Sea Route (NSR). Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin signed the corresponding decree on March 31, 2021.

The construction project owner is the State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom, and the developer (customer) is the Federal State Unitary Enterprise Hydrographic Enterprise.

As the general director of FSUE "Hydrographic Enterprise" Alexander Bengert reported earlier, the conclusion of the contract is planned no later than June 30, 2021. The start of the vessel's construction is scheduled for late 2021 - early 2022, commissioning - for 2024. The register port is Arkhangelsk.

A new hydrographic vessel with a capacity of 8 MW, capable of breaking ice up to 1.5-1.7 m thick, will allow the Hydrographic Enterprise to expand the scope of hydrographic work due to the possibility of increasing the navigation period, as well as explore high-latitude routes necessary for the development of year-round shipping on the NSR.

The vessel will be 83 meters long and more than 17 meters wide. The ship will be equipped with the most modern navigation and hydrographic equipment, a cargo device, and its board will be able to accommodate up to 52 crew and special personnel.

The construction of the new vessel is provided by the federal project "Development of the Northern Sea Route", according to which by 2024 the cargo traffic along the NSR shall reach 80 million tons per year, and the total capacity of seaports in the water area of the NSR shall reach 83 million tons per year.

Let us recall that in 2019 the Federal State Unitary Enterprise Hydrographic Enterprise was transferred to the jurisdiction of the State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom, which had previously received the function of the infrastructure operator of the Northern Sea Route. The enterprise provides navigation and hydrographic support for ships sailing in the water area of ​​the NSR, including the study of the underwater bottom topography to maintain hydrographical chartы, guides and aids for navigation at a modern level and provide the water area of ​​the NSR with navigational equipment, as well as informing seamen about changes in the navigational situation.