The Vaygach, a shallow-draft nuclear-powered icebreaker on December 25, 2015 completed her voyage through the Northern Sea Route from Cape Dezhnev to White Island, FSUE Atomflot said on Monday. This appears to be a unique voyage as it's too late for this navigational season to sail along the Arctic shipping lane and besides, the icebreaker has beaten speed record, the ship owner said.
The Vaygach completed the transition in 7.5 days, or 185 hours (Dec. 17-25) covering 2,250 nm. The average speed during the transition was more than 12 knots.
The icebreaker has started to escort merchant ships in the Kara Sea to the port of Sabetta.
The nuclear-powered icebreaker Taimyr has finished the escort of the tanker MV Ice Eagle to the offshore berth of Cape Kamenny. This is the first ship, escorted this winter / spring navigational season under the contract with Gazprom Neft. Currently, the Taimyr is bound for Sabetta port area.
Shortly, yet another nuclear-powered icebreaker Yamal will join the icebreaking fleet working in the Arctic. The ship will head for the Kara Sea to assist convoys of cargo ships to the port of Sabetta.