A convoy of two bulk carriers and two icebreakers has been stuck in the ice off the coast of Chukotka Peninsula, according to Russian Emergencies Ministry’s Directorate.
The vessels arrived in Pevek from Arkhangelsk along the Northern Sea Route in early January, delivering construction materials to the Arctic Region for a floating nuclear station when they run across difficult ice conditions which measure ten points on a ten-point-scale. Specifically, the thickness of ice in the East Siberian Sea exceeds one meter, while ridged ice is 2.5 meters thick.
The Emergencies Ministry further reported that a Mi-8 helicopter operated by ChukotAVIA will be dispatched in the morning of January 18 from Anadyr Airport to explore the ice cover of the East Siberian Sea.
The convoy remains at anchorage near Cape Shelagsky. According to the captain of the Kapitan Dranitsyn vessel, there is no tension among the crew. There are food and fuels as well.
