OREANDA-NEWS. February 27, 2008. Russian federal authorities have decided to deprive the Murmansk Shipping Company of the fleet of nuclear-powered icebreakers. Now, the shipping company is looking for alternative vessels.

The Murmansk Shipping Company (MSCO) has had the responsibility for managing the state-owned fleet of nuclear-powered icebreakers since the early 1990s. Now, the federal Rosatom will take over the vessels, as well as the Atomflot service base outside the city of Murmansk.

With the transfer of icebreakers, the MSCO is left with only one diesel-powered icebreaker, the ''Vladimir Ignatuyk''. Company leader Aleksandr Medvedev confirms that he now is seeking to buy another two vessels, and that negotiations with foreign companies have been initiated.

The fleet of nuclear-powered icebreakers include nine vessels. In addition, comes the nuclear-powered container ship ''Sevmorput''.