Ice-breaker(RIA Novosti / Vadim Zhernov)
A state-runcompany that operates atomic ice-breakers in Russia may soon become private.
AtomFleethas been removed from the list of previously untouchable assets.
This,however, does not mean the state is going to sell it off completely. Thepresidential order is expected to allow the fleet to be put up for auction,while still keeping 100 per cent of it as state property under the supervisionof RosAtom.
Militaryspecialists say the main reason behind the move is economic. Ever since thecompany became part of state-owned RosAtom, the losses experienced haveamounted to millions of dollars annually. Private companies operating innorthern Russia immediately started looking for cheaper alternatives.
Thesituation was worsened by the growing popularity of diesel ice-breakers. As aresult, the demand for nuclear-powered icebreakers went down, while themaintenance cost of nuclear-powered icebreakers remained the same, making themhighly unprofitable to operate.
Russia hasbeen the only country to produce nuclear-powered icebreakers. Currently,Russia’s atomic fleet owns four two-reactor icebreakers (“Rossiya”, “SovietUnion”, “Yamal”, and “50 Years of Victory”), two one-reactor icebreakers(“Taimyr” and “Vaigach”), the “Sevmorput” container ship, and five floatingtechnical aid units.
Nuclearicebreakers are not the only pieces of Russian equipment rumored to be putaside.
Earlierthere were media reports that the Russian Navy was getting rid of its most powerful submarines, the Typhoon class.
Designed tocarry big nuclear warheads, the Typhoon-class submarines are the largest in theworld. However, their immense size was said to be the main reason why thecountry decided to decommission the underwater veterans.
Thevessels, it was said, did not meet the terms of the new START treaty signed byRussia and the US in the spring of 2010. The long-awaited treaty considerablylimited the strategic arsenals of each country to 1,550 nuclear warheads.
The rumors,however, proved to be a hoax.
