Yakutia pushes for urgent modernization of Russia's Arctic river fleet

Aisen Nikolayev: Zhatay Shipyard Is Key to Developing Russia's Arctic Fleet

During Monday's broadcast of Direct Line on the GTRK Sakha TV channel, Yakutia's head Aisen Nikolayev spoke about the importance of the Zhatay Shipyard and its role in building Arctic-class vessels. He noted that the facility is one of the few in Russia capable of producing ships rated Arc3 and Arc4, as well as components for Arc6 and Arc7 vessels.

"The project's uniqueness lies in the fact that it became possible thanks to cooperation between Russia's Ministry of Industry and Trade and Yakutia. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic and the special military operation, we found ways to secure funding and implement this initiative," Nikolayev emphasized.

During a visit by Nikolai Patrushev, the presidential aide and chairman of Russia's Maritime Board, discussions focused on maximizing the Zhatay Shipyard's capacity and its future development. The republic's leader stressed the urgent need to modernize the river fleet, particularly given the short navigation season in the North.

"Concessional leasing is critically important for river shipping companies operating under difficult conditions. It is also essential to renew and overhaul the dredging fleet, which should be serviced at our shipyard," he added.

Nikolayev pointed out that shipbuilding in Russia has nearly ground to a halt, with only a few projects emerging for high-traffic rivers. He underscored the vital role of vessels for Siberian rivers like the Lena, Yana, Kolyma, and Indigirka, without which full-scale operations would be impossible.

"We have plans to develop the Zhatay Shipyard, and we are working on them. We are confident that this modern production facility must be kept busy with orders to ensure stability and benefit both Zhatay and the entire republic," Aisen Nikolayev concluded.