Rosatomflot completes east-west escort of a convoy of small ice-class vessels
Moscow – For the first time in the history of Arctic navigation at this time of year, the nuclear-powered icebreaker Arktika of Atomflot FSUE piloted from east to west vessels of ice class Arc5: the motor ships Engineer Trubin and Polar King as well the nuclear container ship Sevmorput. On February 19, the world’s only cargo ship with a nuclear power plant continued moving on its own, while the caravan of two diesel-powered vessels was handed over to the nuclear-powered icebreaker Yamal in the Ob-Yenisei area. Two days later the caravan left the waters of the Northern Sea Route near the western edge of the Kara Sea ice. The operation was assisted by diesel-electric icebreaker Kapitan Dranitsyn.
“Atomflot’s Headquarters of Marine Operations and the crew of the Arktika nuclear icebreaker demonstrated high professionalism and excellent cooperation in making operational decisions while providing escort for the convoy of ships,” said Leonid Irlitsa, First Deputy General Director of Atomflot. – Today we can confidently say that at this time of the year the Arc5 class ships escorted by a nuclear-powered icebreaker are able to cross the entire water area of the Northern Sea Route.”
On February 9, the nuclear-powered icebreaker Arktika began escorting the ships Engineer Trubin and Polar King from the port of Pevek, with support provided by diesel-electric icebreaker Kapitan Dranitsyn. Two days later, in the East Siberian Sea, the nuclear-powered container ship Sevmorput joined the caravan. The world’s only nuclear-powered cargo vessel has been on its way from Vladivostok to its home port of Murmansk.
“Due to shallow depths and a specific hydrometeorological situation, the East Siberian Sea has the most challenging ice conditions,” said Vasily Gubkin, captain of the nuclear-powered icebreaker Arktika. – The nuclear-powered container ship Sevmorput had been waiting for us to approach, but, upon joining the caravan smoothly, continued its movement. This unique vessel has an ice-breaker lines, and its bow enables it to go efficiently through the ice. Our crew had a unique experience of piloting such a caravan that confirmed the exceptional capabilities of the nuclear-powered icebreaker of project 22220.”
The ships Engineer Trubin and Polar King are currently on their way to Arkhangelsk. The nuclear-powered container ship is heading for Murmansk, its port of loading. The nuclear icebreaker Yamal is bound for the berths of FSUE Atomflot for a scheduled crew change. As for the lead universal nuclear icebreaker Arktika, it continues its operations in the Ob-Yenisei region of the Northern Sea Route.