Rosatomflot provided icebreaker support to a convoy of vessels of low ice class from east to west

For the first time in the Arctic navigation history at this time of the year the Atomflot’s lead multi-purpose nuclear-powered icebreaker Arktika escorted Arc5 ice class vessels Inzhener Trubin, Polar King and the nuclear-powered container vessel Sevmorput, from east to west. On 19 February the only transport vessel in the world with a nuclear propulsion plant continued its voyage independently, and the nuclear-powered icebreaker of Project 22220 delegated escort of the convoy of two vessels to the nuclear-powered icebreaker Yamal in the Ob-Yenisei region. Two days later, the convoy left the Northern Sea Route at the western edge of the Kara Sea ice. The diesel-electric icebreaker Kapitan Dranitsyn assisted in the operation.

“The Atomflot’s Marine Operations Headquarters and the crew of the nuclear-powered icebreaker Arktika demonstrated high professionalism and excellent cooperation in making prompt decisions when escorting the vessel convoy,” Leonid Irlitsa, Atomflot’s First Deputy Director General, said. “Today we can say with confidence that Arc5 ice-class vessels can sail along the entire water area of the Northern Sea Route at this time of the year, under the escort of a nuclear-powered icebreaker.”

On 9 February the nuclear-powered icebreaker Arktika started escorting the motor vessels Inzhener Trubin and Polar King with the support of the diesel-electric icebreaker Kapitan Dranitsyn from the port of Pevek. Two days later, the nuclear-powered container vessel Sevmorput joined the convoy in the East Siberian Sea. The world’s only transport vessel with a nuclear propulsion plant was heading from Vladivostok to its home port of Murmansk.

“Due to shallow water and special hydrometeorological conditions, the ice situation in the East Siberian Sea is the most difficult,” Vasily Gubkin, the captain of the nuclear-powered icebreaker Arktika, said. – “The nuclear-powered container vessel Sevmorput was waiting for our arrival, but, having entered the convoy without any problems, she continued the voyage. This unique vessel has icebreaker lines, and her bow allows efficient sailing in ice. The convoy escort gave our crew a unique experience and confirmed the exceptional capabilities of a nuclear-powered icebreaker of Project 22220.”

Now the motor vessels Inzhener Trubin and Polar King are heading to Arkhangelsk. The nuclear-powered container vessel is going to the port of loading in Murmansk. The nuclear-powered icebreaker Yamal is heading to the berths of Atomflot for a scheduled crew change. The lead multi-purpose nuclear-powered icebreaker Arktika continues its operation in the Ob-Yenisei region of the Northern Sea Route.

Source and photo: Atomflot’s Department of Communications