#ARCTIC. #SIBERIA. THIS IS TAIMYR. In the future, underwater tankers and dry cargo ships will be used to transport goods in the Arctic.
Global climate change is making the Arctic increasingly attractive for shipping, which only contributes to the active introduction of new research technology and modes of transport in the region. One of the alternatives to modern bulk carriers could be submarines that will not depend on ice conditions.
“These are theoretical ideas for now, but they are currently being actively discussed. Modernized submarines may become such vehicles. In areas where there are large accumulations of ice, they will sink to a depth of 50–100 meters. Then in warm seas they will be able to continue their journey on the surface. However, such projects require appropriate loading and unloading infrastructure”, said Alexander Yulin, head of the long-term ice forecasts and ice regime laboratory at the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (AARI).
The scientists’ idea is not new – the possibility of delivering cargo to the Norilsk combine by submarines was once put forward by one of its former leaders. The project remained unrealized because of the need to build expensive loading and unloading infrastructure.
In addition, according to scientists, amphibious hovercraft will be in demand for passenger traffic and tourist trips in the Northern Sea Route area. They are able to ensure the movement of people and cargo regardless of ice conditions. This type of transport is already widely used in the Arctic along with unmanned aerial vehicles – primarily by rescuers, hydrometeorological survey and mail delivery services. The importance of these vehicles will only increase in the future.
Earlier it became known that the Arctic expedition of the Ministry of Emergency Situations will test new models of equipment. The possibility of using hovercraft for passenger transportation was considered in Taimyr five years ago.
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Text: Denis Kozhevnikov, photo: Nikolay Shchipko
