Why Russia chose India not China to build 4 new ice-breakers, Russia, India, icebreaker, Arctic, Girish Linganna, shipbuilding, ROSATOM, Indo-Russian relations

Russia has chosen India, not China, to build non-nuclear ice-breakers as it works to develop the Northern Sea Route and manage challenges posed by Western sanctions. This decision will strengthen Indo-Russian relationship and give India a key role in Arctic activities.

Russia chose India for this project as European shipyards are unable to take on the order and shipyards in China, South Korea and Japan are fully booked until 2028.

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Besides, Russia values India as a reliable partner and this project marks an important step in strengthening Indo-Russian relations and will boost India’s role in shipbuilding.

The Indian government is discussing plans with two shipbuilders — one public and one private — to construct four non-nuclear ice-breaker ships worth over $750 million. This project will help Russia’s nuclear energy company, ROSATOM, as it looks for suitable shipyards in India.

The latest development follows talks between Russia and an Indian business delegation at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, where both countries agreed to strengthen their partnership in the Russian Arctic and work on developing the Northern Sea Route as a key transit hub.

In 2023, India had suggested that it collaborates with Russia in building non-nuclear ice-breakers in its own country, according to Russian minister Alexey Chekunkov.

In July 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on his two-day visit to Moscow, discussed working together in various fields, including shipbuilding.

This will be done by setting up a joint working group within the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC).

This group will bring together members from both sides to collaborate, share ideas and coordinate efforts to achieve common goals effectively.

Breaking Barriers In The Ice

An ice-breaker ship is a specialized vessel designed to break through ice-covered waters with ease, creating navigable paths for other ships.

These vessels play a crucial role in supporting the economies of countries with ports that remain frozen for extended periods.

They are also essential for nations seeking to explore and utilize the Arctic’s natural resources, ensuring access to areas that would otherwise be inaccessible.

Ice-breaker Hull to Crush Ice

The hull of an ice-breaker, which is the main part of the ship that floats in water, is specially reinforced at the front section (bow), where it breaks through the ice, and at the back (stern), which often houses the steering controls.

Extra strength is also added along the waterline, where the ship’s surface meets the water. To help the ship move smoothly through the ice, the hull is coated with special polymers that reduce friction.

Sea ice is not very flexible. Because of this, it usually cracks easily when pushed by the strong, reinforced hull of an ice-breaker. When the ice is very thick, the ice-breaker moves forward and uses its own weight to crush and break through the ice. This helps the ship force its way through tough, frozen surfaces.

Explaining A Sloped Bow Design

The bow is shaped to curve downward gradually. This sloping design helps the ship ride up onto thick ice, using its weight to crush the ice underneath. Once the ice breaks, the sloped bow also pushes the broken pieces to the sides, making sure the ship does not get blocked by a pile of ice in its path.

And the Extra Strong Engines

Ice-breakers do tough work that demands extra strength. They also have special navigation and propulsion systems, which can be damaged by the ice they break through. Therefore, to move safely through the ice, the ship needs very powerful engines.

ROSATOM’s Deal With India

ROSATOM is planning to build four non-nuclear ice-breakers in India, with the order currently in its final stages. An official mentioned that both countries were also working on an MoU for cooperation in shipbuilding and repair of Russian ships at Indian shipyards.

The agreement will also include training Indian sailors to navigate and operate in polar waters, preparing them for the challenges of icy conditions.

To this end, the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) is collaborating with Enso Group of India — a business conglomerate dealing in various sectors, including energy, healthcare and infrastructure development — to invest roughly $225 million to improve their shipbuilding infrastructure.

This collaboration aims not only to strengthen shipbuilding capabilities, but also boost maritime cooperation between the two countries.

A Russian delegation, including officials from ROSATOM, visited Indian shipyards to evaluate their infrastructure and ability to handle the project. However, they raised some concerns about sourcing the right type of steel for building the vessels and finding suitable engines for the ships.

Russia views the Northern Sea Route as a shorter, more cost-effective alternative to traditional shipping routes. It provides faster travel between Northern Europe and East Asia compared to the Suez Canal route.

By 2030, Russia aims to transport 150 million tons of such goods as crude oil, coal and LNG through this route. This plan includes using over 50 ice-breakers and ice-class ships, along with building new ports, terminals and emergency response vessels, to operate along the route.

ROSATOM and its Indian partners discussed ways to explore the potential of the Northern Sea Route. This route stretches from Murmansk, near Russia’s border with Norway, all the way to the Bering Strait, which is close to Alaska in the United States.

Alaska lies in the far northwest of North America, across the Bering Strait from Russia. The entire route covers a distance of roughly 5,600 kilometres, offering a shorter path for shipping between Europe and Asia compared to traditional routes through the Suez Canal.

At the same time, Russia is also moving forward with its plans to develop Arctic trade routes in partnership with China. In July 2024, Russia and China launched the Arctic Express Route.

This initiative aims to create the shortest shipping route connecting the Pacific Ocean with the Atlantic by passing through the Arctic region.

China will gain from the development and security of Russia’s Northern Sea Route, as it plays a crucial role in its Belt and Road Initiative, avowedly to help improve trade routes and global connectivity.

Russia is working to maintain good relations with both China and India in the Arctic. This approach is part of its larger strategy to collaborate with friendly countries as a way to manage the impact of Western sanctions imposed due to the conflict in Ukraine.

The author of this article is a Defence and Aerospace analyst based in Bengaluru.

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