In 2016, the number of ships that Atomflot icebreakers escorted in the Arctic more than doubled compared to 2015, the company's communications department said.

"In 2016, nuclear-powered icebreakers escorted 410 vessels with a gross tonnage of 5,288,284 metric tons along the Northern Sea Route. For comparison, 195 vessels with a gross tonnage of 2,042,522 metric tons were escorted in 2015," the report noted.

Atomflot icebreakers escort vessels servicing major national hydrocarbon projects in the Arctic.