ST. PETERSBURG. July 12 (Interfax-AVN) - Russian companies are prepared to start building three more new-generation diesel-electric icebreakers, each with a 25 megawatt capacity, as early as in 2010, said Russian Transport Minister Igor Levitin.
"The new icebreaker project has already been prepared, and the company is ready to start building next year," Levitin said during his and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's visit of the St. Petersburg icebreaker on Sunday.
Apart from their main icebreaking function, these modern powerful icebreakers can also participate in fire extinguishing operations and tow large sea objects, the minister said.
He presented to Putin the Project 22600 for construction of a multi-role diesel-electric 25-megawatt icebreaker.
The vessel has a length of 142.4 meters and the speed of 17 knots. The transport ministry and Rosmorport are already willing to become the project customers.
It was reported that on Sunday Putin attended the flag-raising ceremony at the new Saint Petersburg icebreaker, which took place at the Baltic Plant. The icebreaker was delivered to its customer, Rosmorport.