Polar Silk Road (icebreaker)

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In 2018 China announced plans to build a nuclear-powered icebreaker, the Polar Silk Road.^[1]^[2] The vessel is said to be similar to Russia's Arktika class of nuclear-powered icebreakers.^[3]

Only Russia and the former Soviet Union had built nuclear-powered icebreakers. China's previous two ice-breakers, both named Xue Long, are conventionally powered.^[2]

The vessel will be powered by two 25 Megawatt nuclear reactors, and is projected to cost approximately 1 billion yuan.^[3]

Some sources assert that China's Polar Silk Road plan call for China to build a new conventionally powered Polar Class icebreaker in addition to a nuclear powered icebreaker.^[4] China is also planning to build an ice-protected heavy-lift semi-submersible vessel. It would be used to carry and install drilling platforms for petroleum extraction.

References[edit]

↑ Trym Aleksander Eiterjord. China’s Planned Nuclear Icebreaker, The Diplomat, 2018-07-17. Retrieved on 2021-11-13. “Arrangements for the construction of a nuclear icebreaker seem to have started in 2016 when CNNC and China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) signed a cooperation agreement on advancing the country’s civilian application of maritime nuclear power.”
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 Lyle J. Goldstein. China Is Building Nuclear Icebreakers To Seek Out A "Polar Silk Road", National Interest, 2020-03-16. Retrieved on 2021-11-13.
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 Thomas Nilsen. Details of China’s nuclear-powered icebreaker revealed, Barent's Observer, 2019-03-21. Retrieved on 2021-11-13. “With those specifications, China’s first nuclear-powered icebreaker will be 2 meters longer and a few thousand tons heavier than Russia’s current Arktika-class icebreakers, but somewhat smaller than Russia’s new fleet of icebreakers of the Project 22220 of which there are currently three under construction at the Baltiskiy Shipyard in St. Petersburg.”
↑ Jeremy Greenwood. Opinion: The Polar Silk Road Will be Cleared With Chinese Icebreakers, Maritime Executive, 2021-11-22. Retrieved on 2021-11-23. “Meanwhile, China’s Ministry of Transport has announced that they will develop a new heavy icebreaker and a new heavy-lift semi-submersible vessel capable of salvaging and rescuing vessels in the Arctic. This would supplement their two existing icebreakers and be in addition to reports of their development of a nuclear-powered icebreaker.”

[thediplomat2018-07-17-1] Trym Aleksander Eiterjord. China’s Planned Nuclear Icebreaker, The Diplomat, 2018-07-17. Retrieved on 2021-11-13. “Arrangements for the construction of a nuclear icebreaker seem to have started in 2016 when CNNC and China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) signed a cooperation agreement on advancing the country’s civilian application of maritime nuclear power.”

[nationalinterest2020-03-16-2] 2.0 ^2.1 Lyle J. Goldstein. China Is Building Nuclear Icebreakers To Seek Out A "Polar Silk Road", National Interest, 2020-03-16. Retrieved on 2021-11-13.

[thebarentsobserver2019-03-21-3] 3.0 ^3.1 Thomas Nilsen. Details of China’s nuclear-powered icebreaker revealed, Barent's Observer, 2019-03-21. Retrieved on 2021-11-13. “With those specifications, China’s first nuclear-powered icebreaker will be 2 meters longer and a few thousand tons heavier than Russia’s current Arktika-class icebreakers, but somewhat smaller than Russia’s new fleet of icebreakers of the Project 22220 of which there are currently three under construction at the Baltiskiy Shipyard in St. Petersburg.”

[maritime-executive2021-11-22-4] Jeremy Greenwood. Opinion: The Polar Silk Road Will be Cleared With Chinese Icebreakers, Maritime Executive, 2021-11-22. Retrieved on 2021-11-23. “Meanwhile, China’s Ministry of Transport has announced that they will develop a new heavy icebreaker and a new heavy-lift semi-submersible vessel capable of salvaging and rescuing vessels in the Arctic. This would supplement their two existing icebreakers and be in addition to reports of their development of a nuclear-powered icebreaker.”

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Polar Silk Road (icebreaker)

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