The strategy on updating the icebreaking fleet of FSUE "Rosmorport" was discussed as a part of the exhibition "NEVA 2021" dedicated to civilian shipbuilding, shipping, seaport activities and the ocean and shelf development, which was held from September 20 to 24 in Saint Petersburg.

At this moment, one of the urgent priorities of FSUE "Rosmorport" is the replacement of auxiliary port icebreakers to be written off. In the future, these vessels can be replaced by new icebreaking tugboats, whose characteristics allow them to work independently in rather difficult ice conditions. At the same time, the construction time of such tugboats is less, and the operation costs are lower.

According to the head of the Fleet Operation Department of FSUE "Rosmorport" Vladimir Vinogradov, one of the factors that has reinforced the need to intensify works on the development and construction of new icebreakers and icebreaker tugboats was a rapid increase in sea cargo transportation. A significant part of it is carried out in the water areas of freezing seaports of Russia.

As Vladimir Vinogradov noted during the conference "Development of the icebreaking and service-auxiliary fleet", the use of icebreakers in light ice conditions is impractical and unprofitable. An analysis performed by FSUE "Krylov State Scientific Center" showed that part of the icebreaking functions can be transferred to new type of icebreaking tugboats with at least Arc5 ice class in order to ensure year-round operation of the seaports of the Baltic and White Seas.

In particular, by the end of September, the fleet of FSUE "Rosmorport" will be replenished by the Pomor azimuthal tugboat of the high ice class. The vessel was built by JSC "Onego Shipyard". After checking the tugboat in action during winter navigation period, there will be considered replacement of the icebreakers of the 97A project, which are gradually developing their resource.