FSUE Rosmorport says three of its diesel-electric icebreakers are currently operating in the Gulf of Ob of the Kara Sea: the Tor, the Moskva and the Vladivostok.
The Tor and Moskva provide icebreaker escort services in the water area of port Sabetta. From December 2016 they have assisted over 100 vessels. The icebreakers are responsible for maintenance of the ice canal, escorting of cargo vessels to/from the berths, as well as delivery of pilots to/from vessels.
According to the statement, the flow of cargo on the Northern Sea Route is increasing, hence higher demand for the services of icebreakers. Upon the request of Yamal LNG OJSC, additional icebreaker, the Vladivostok, was deployed for operation at the approaches to Sabetta from 1 April 2017. The icebreaker is in charge of escorting vessels from the point where the convoys are formed (Near the Zhelaniya Cape) up to the water area of port Sabetta and back. The Vladivostok has already escorted three vessels.
The conditions of the current ice navigation are referred to as moderate, ice is 90-110 cm hick. Diesel-electric icebreakers run by FSUE Rosmorport are designed with the application of cutting-edge technologies. They can break through ice of up to 1.5 m thick.