The only one of its kind: Russian scientific ice-resistant platform "North Pole" heads to the Arctic

The Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (AARI) announced the final stage of preparation for the drifting polar expedition "North Pole-42." Its research vessel, the ice-resistant self-propelled platform "North Pole," has already departed from the port of St. Petersburg to Murmansk.

From there, the vessel will head north of the New Siberian Islands and will be moored to a reliable ice floe, with which it will be able to drift for many months. AARI scientists will conduct dozens of scientific studies important for studying climate change processes, laying routes along the Northern Sea Route, and ensuring hydrometeorological safety of Russia, and will set up a camp on the ice to study Arctic nature.

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The "North Pole-42" expedition is a continuation of the Soviet program of drifting polar stations, established in 1937 by Soviet scientists and polar explorers. Over 75 years, 40 drifting expeditions were organized. In 2013, the work of classical drifting stations in the Arctic stopped: due to global warming, it became unsafe to conduct many months of scientific research on the ice. However, Russian scientists found a solution: this is how the world's first ice-resistant self-propelled platform "North Pole" appeared.

The LSP infrastructure allows for a comprehensive study of the Arctic environment: from the bottom of the Arctic Ocean, through the entire ocean, studying currents, water properties, and ice, to the upper layers of the atmosphere and near space.

The capabilities of the ice-resistant platform allow us to use the most modern equipment in our work, immerse instruments to any depth in the Arctic Ocean, study near space, and use satellites and unmanned vehicles. We have managed to create an almost continuous program of interdisciplinary scientific research in the high latitudes of the Arctic, which will last for many years. Nothing like this was even imaginable before! The data transmitted from the ice-resistant platform is very important for both fundamental and applied tasks that are strategically important for the state.

Alexander Makarov, Director of the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute

LSP "North Pole"

The platform is a product of USC structures: it was developed within the framework of project 00903 by specialists from the Vympel Design Bureau together with AARI scientists, and built by shipbuilders from the Admiralty Shipyards. The contract for the design and construction of the ice-resistant platform was signed by Roshydromet and the Admiralty Shipyards in 2018, and all necessary tests were completed by August 2022.

The LSP "North Pole" has dimensions of 83.1 meters in length and 22.5 meters in width. Its displacement is 10 thousand tons, and its "heart" has a capacity of 4200 kW. It can travel at a speed of 10 knots per hour and can also accommodate heavy helicopters such as the Mi-8 AMT (Mi-17) on board.

On board, there is everything necessary for autonomous location, observation, and scientific research: from a medical unit with the ability to perform simple operations if necessary to a gym and a cinema. There are 14 crew members and 34 scientific staff of the expedition working there.

In September 2022, the R/V "North Pole" set off on its first voyage to the Arctic. During 20 months of operation, the drifting expedition "North Pole-41" successfully completed all the tasks and confirmed the high efficiency of conducting research at a technologically new level. The ice-resistant platform provided polar explorers with a safe and comfortable stay and the opportunity to use heavy equipment.

The safety of the vessel is guaranteed by a special hull shape, which optimally distributes the load from ice compression, effectively squeezing the vessel onto their surface. The designed shape allows you to place the maximum amount of equipment and supplies necessary for a two-year expedition.