Russia has initiated the design of nuclear-powered submarines intended to transport liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Arctic regions to Asia via the Northern Sea Route (NSR). This initiative aims to facilitate year-round LNG shipments, circumventing the limitations of surface vessels that require icebreaker assistance during harsh Arctic conditions.
The proposed submarines are envisioned to be approximately 360 meters in length and 70 meters in width, with a cargo capacity of around 180,000 tons of LNG—comparable to current Arc7-class icebreaking LNG carriers. Each submarine would be powered by three RITM-200 nuclear reactors, collectively generating 90 megawatts to achieve speeds up to 17 knots. This capability could reduce NSR transit times from 20 days to approximately 12 days.
The project is a collaboration between the Kurchatov Institute, Russia’s premier nuclear research facility, and energy giant Gazprom. Mikhail Kovalchuk, director of the Kurchatov Institute and a close associate of President Vladimir Putin, presented the concept at the Offshore Marintec Russia 2024 conference, highlighting its potential to revolutionize Arctic LNG transport.
Despite the ambitious vision, experts express skepticism regarding the project’s feasibility. Alexander Nikitin, a former Russian Navy officer and nuclear expert, questioned Russia’s current shipbuilding capabilities, noting the absence of necessary infrastructure, such as specialized servicing vessels, docks, and trained crews. He characterized the project as a “fantasy” lacking practical grounding
