Delivery of construction materials commenced for RF Armed Forces’ infrastructure facilities in the Arctic (photo)

Delivery of construction materials and aggregates has commenced for RF Armed Forces’ infrastructure facilities in the Arctic. Russia’s Federal Agency for Special Construction (Spetsstroy) is building special facilities at Alexandra Land, Kotelny, Vrangel and Sredny islands, Shmidt cape and Rogachevo settlement (Novaya Zemlya) and Tiksi settlement. Spetsstroy says over 10,000 t of construction cargo will be delivered to the construction site in May. 

The bulk of the materials, more than 190,000 t, will be delivered in June-October.

For several month construction materials and aggregates were accumulating at the port of Murmansk, Arkhangelsk and Kandalaksha. It takes about 10 days for a vessel to come to the point of unloading.

A complicated logistic chain is used to deliver materials to the construction site – everything is delivered from the mainland. It can be done only during the summer navigation period, which lasts for 4-5 months.  

The delivery will be carried out with icebreaking assistance up to June. The cargo will be unloaded onto the land-fast ice припай. Helicopters are used sometimes. Over 180,000 t of cargo was delivered in 2014-2015.

Besides, with the start of construction season the workforce is being increased on the Arctic islands. The shift lasts for four months on the average. The work does not stop during the polar night period.