Russia’s Maritime Search and Rescue Agency has formally taken delivery of the multi-purpose support and rescue vessel Kerch Strait, marking the latest initiative to bolster the nation’s capacity for ensuring maritime operations along the Northern Sea Route.
The “Kerch Strait” is 86 meters long and has an icebreaking bow, enabling it to operate in the Arctic shipping lanes. It will be deployed to the Primorsky Krai branch in the Far East and will also have patrol and emergency rescue capabilities.
The vessel is equipped with two podded azimuth thrusters and a bow thruster, each with a maximum power of 3,500 kilowatts and an expected top speed of 15 knots. It can carry 26 crew members and 12 professionals; when carrying out search and rescue missions, it can accommodate up to 95 people. The bow is equipped with a helicopter landing platform that can meet the take-off and landing requirements of Ka-32 helicopters.
In icebreaking mode, the vessel can break through ice layers up to 1.5 meters thick, ensuring navigability for ports and local waterways. Its mission scope includes support and assistance in hazardous navigation areas, covering shipping, fisheries, and oil and gas field operations, while also possessing underwater technical operation and towing support capabilities.
Notably, the construction plan for the Kerch Strait was first proposed nearly two decades ago, with work commencing at the Amur Shipyard in 2010. Subsequently, the shipbuilding project was suspended due to litigation disputes until its resumption in 2018, ultimately launching in November 2020. Several years after its launch, sea trials commenced in November 2025, with delivery scheduled for late 2025.
Currently, Russia is focusing on enhancing the capacity of its shipping lanes to ensure year-round navigation services along the Northern Sea Route, making the delivery of the “Kerch Strait” timely.