#ARCTIC. #SIBERIA. THIS IS TAIMYR. For the first time, Atomflot icebreakers carried out an operation to navigate a vessel with a carrying capacity of almost 170 thousand tons from west to east. Near cape Dezhnev on the Northern Sea Route (NSR), the nuclear-powered icebreakers Taimyr and Siberia completed the pilotage of the bulk carrier (transportation of bulk cargo) Gingo with 164.5 thousand tons of iron ore concentrate.
The icebreaker assistance route length was 620 miles, the average speed was 10 knots. The wiring consisted of two stages. First, the nuclear-powered icebreaker Taimyr ensured the vessel’s safe passage through a section of the Kara sea from the Sergey Kirov islands through the Matisen and Boris Vilkitsky straits, after which the bulk carrier independently crossed the Laptev sea. Further in the East Siberian sea, icebreaker support was provided by the universal nuclear icebreaker Sibir.
“The Northern Sea Route is quite popular among cargo carriers. Understanding weather conditions and ice conditions, you can plan the most comfortable and safe route for the vessel. The crews of the nuclear-powered ships carried out truly unique icebreaker assistance. A large-capacity bulk carrier crossed the Northern Sea Route in 13 days; through the Suez canal it would have taken twice as long”, commented Andrey Tenitsky, adviser to the general director of Atomflot.
Enterprises of the state corporation Rosatom take an active part in the comprehensive development of the Arctic zone of Russia, which is now one of the state’s strategic priorities.
By 2035, Russia plans to build 120 ships of various types and purposes. In particular, the grouping of the icebreaker fleet in the NSR waters will increase to 18 vessels.
Follow us on Telegram, VKontakte.
Text: Denis Kozhevnikov, Photo: Denis Kozhevnikov / editorial archive
