Russian nuclear-powered icebreaker to head for the White Sea on Jan. 4, 2013
The nuclear-powered icebreaker "50 Years of Victory" is scheduled to depart from its home port of Murmansk on January 4, 2012, the ship owner Atomflot said. The vessel will set sail to the White Sea, where the powerful icebreaker will be engaged in escort of large-tonnage tankers from the edge of the White Sea to the inner anchorage of the port of Vitino.
According to tentative schedule on January 16 the Atomflot-owened nuclear-powered icebreaker "Russia" will start her icebreaking and escort duties under the contract with Federal Rosmorport in the Gulf of Finland. The Russia will assist cargo ships bound for the ports of Ust-Luga, Vysotsk, Primorsk and Big Port St. Petersburg.
"All States, along the territorial waters border of which the nuclear-powered icebreaker will follow, have been noticed about its operation on the dates through the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Besides, a separate notification has been sent to STUK, Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority of Finland", the Atomflot’s statement said.
At the 2012 ice formation on the Gulf is more intense than the previous winter. In the last winter navigation season nuclear-powered icebreakers of Atomflot escorted a total of 322 cargo ships: the icebreaker 50 Years of Victory - 185 ships, the icebreaker Russia – 185 vessels.
Now, the icebreaker "Vaigach" is escorting the M/V Kapitan Danilkin owned by Murmansk Shipping Company. Since January 1, 2013 the atomic icebreaker is to commence operation in the Yenisei Gulf, cutting a path in ice-covered waters for the vessels of Norilsk Nickel, which will continue until the beginning of ice break-up next spring.