Rossiya icebreaker goes on duty

 
Wednesday, nuclear icebreaker Rossiya left its home port of Murmansk to render assistance along the Northern Sea Route (NSR).

During the navigable period of summer and autumn 2012, Rosatomflot’s icebreakers have led 38 vessels loaded with over 1 million tons of transit cargo through icy waters.

Upon its return to Murmansk last Tuesday after the polar expedition Arctica-2012, ‘Rossiya’ is now about to join the ‘50 Let Pobedy’ icebreaker that has been running along the NSR this year. ‘Rossiya’ will be carrying out its duties till late 2012.

‘Vaigach’ and ‘Yamal’ icebreakers will start operating on the route in late October 2012 and early February 2013 correspondingly. Two other icebreakers of Rosatomflot are either being repaired (Taimyr) or just standing idle indulged in vain expectations of repairs (Sovietsky Soyuz).

According to ITAR-TASS, 23 out of 38 vessels that have made their way through the NSR are tankers carrying gas condensate, kerosene, diesel fuel, and lubricants. Bigger part of the goods (763.914 tons) is liquid bulk cargo of Novatek. Four large-capacity vessels owned by Nordic Bulk Carriers transported some 262.000 tons of iron ore concentrate of EuroChem. One refrigerator ship loaded with 8.000 tons of fish and ten empty vessels have also made their appearance on the NSR during this navigable period. The ports of destination are Russia, China, South Korea, Singapore, Island, France and Finland.

In 2011, 34 transit vessels passed along the route carrying about 820.000 tons of cargo. 
 
Photo: Rossiya icebreaker by Wikimedia Commons. 
 
External links:
Arctica-2012 expedition of Rossiya. Photo set by RIA Novosti.
Aboard the '50 Let Pobedy'. Photo story by Sergey Dolya
Rosatomflot