Russia has unveiled a significant investment plan amounting to $6 billion aiming to invigorate its domestic shipbuilding industry. The National Strategy for the Development of the Shipbuilding Industry details an ambitious program to add 1,637 merchant vessels to the national fleet by 2036. A major focus of the strategy is the construction of 130 high ice-class vessels. These ships, including oil and gas tankers as well as bulk carriers, are intended to bolster the development of Arctic shipping routes, a critical component given the country's geographic position. The strategy presents three potential outcomes depending on external factors. Under scenarios influenced by ongoing Western sanctions, goals may differ. In a low growth scenario, Russia could expand its fleet to 1,165 vessels, while an optimistic scenario might see the fleet grow to 1,910 vessels. Economic sanctions from Western nations have pushed Russia to reduce its reliance on traditional shipbuilding leaders, such as South Korea and Japan. These sanctions have hindered Russia’s access to their facilities, forcing the country to create self-reliant capabilities in the construction of large-tonnage sea vessels. Currently, Russia faces challenges due to its limited facility capacity for constructing and launching large merchant vessels. Only a few shipbuilding facilities in the nation are equipped for building civilian vessels exceeding 170 meters in length, which significantly impacts construction timelines. Additionally, Russia aims to expand its icebreaker fleet from 45 to 60 vessels by 2030, and further to 69 by 2036. The current fleet includes a mix of diesel-electric and nuclear-powered icebreakers, with many aging and requiring replacement within the next two decades. Despite some experience in building icebreakers, Russia has encountered difficulties in completing LNG carriers and oil tankers for Arctic conditions.

Source: https://gcaptain.com/russia-to-spend-6bn-to-jumpstart-domestic-shipbuilding-includes-130-vessels-for-arctic/