The Russian icebreaker “Ilya Muromets”, part of Russia’s Northern Fleet, helped the nuclear submarine “Yuri Dolgoruk” to sail through the Arctic ice for the first time, Vadim Serga a Fleet’s spokesman informed.
Currently, the ice is about 40 cm thick in the White Sea, something that makes it impossible for non-ice class vessels to navigate through the area, Mr. Serga was cited as saying by the Russian news agency Tass.
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The icebreaker “Ilya Muromets”, can break ice as much as much 90 cm thick, transport cargoes, and conduct various rescue operations. It also has a crane which can lift 26 tonnes and is able to perform loading and unloading operations.
During the operation, the icebreaker was ahead clearing the ice, while the icebreaker Ruslan along with a sea tug were provided to ensure the underwater cruiser’s passage.
After this, “Ilya Muromets” headed to the White Sea Throat, where the underwater cruiser “Yuri Dolgoruky” was deployed for an icebreaker escort, the spokesman said to Tass.
