On January 15, 2026, a historic icebreaking operation concluded in the waters of the Port of Dudinka: the universal nuclear icebreaker "Sibir" (Project 22220) successfully delivered the diesel-electric vessel "Norilsk Nickel" through the heavy ice of the eastern Arctic sector. The route, spanning 2162.4 nautical miles, took 10 days and was made possible by the use of an unconventional method — "close-coupled" towing, in which the vessel follows directly behind the icebreaker, utilizing its ice track.
The operation was particularly challenging due to extreme weather conditions and the very late navigation season in the region. To ensure the safety and efficiency of the maneuver, the crew of "Sibir" practiced interaction tactics in advance on an ice navigation simulator in St. Petersburg.
Captain of the icebreaker Konstantin Kelarev, who led the preparation, reported that this type of escort scheme had not previously been applied to high ice-class vessels with their own powerful ice protection.
Read more on this topic:
Now on home
"Kaponir" was launched at the Sredne-Nevsky Shipbuilding Plant
Units jointly use "Molniya-PVO" interceptors and mobile radar stations
After Traffic Growth and Overtaking YouTube, the Service is Transitioning to a Paid Model
The payload of the spacecraft will reach 500 kilograms in low orbit
Free and paid plans with different levels of access are being considered
Aviation Expert Borisov: The Main Advantage of the Il-114-300 is That It Already Exists
The upcoming geomagnetic storm will be weak
Integration will expand the capabilities of the on-board digital platform
The main function of such rockets is to replace retiring satellites from satellite constellations
Cooling tower foundations are 43% complete