Russia Builds New Class of Ice Patrol Boats

The Russian Ministry of Defence has the navy has ordered two Arctic patrol boats that will be capable of breaking through ice 1.5 meters (five feet) thick.

The new vessels will be delivered from the Admiralty yard in St. Petersburg by end of 2020.

The vessels are a new class capable of tug, icebreaking and patrol operations. The Independent Barents Observer reports that, based on preliminary images, the vessels have several similarities to Norway’s icebreaking coast guard vessel Svalbard including the possibility of an indoor helicopter hangar.

Russia’s Northern fleet has increasingly been conducting more patrols along the Northern Sea Route. 

Last year the navy took delivery of the icebreaking tug Alexander Piskunov to operate as an Arctic supply ship.