Earlier, having finished the icebreaker supply operation to the US polar explorers of Antarctic station «McMurdo», icebreaker «Krasin» heads for home shore.
The ship is going with speed of 13,5 knots and now is positioned in area of 5 degrees of northern latitude and 138 degrees of eastern longitude. Weather conditions for «Krasin» are almost extreme — air temperature doesn’t fall below than 30 degrees, outboard water temperature — 29 degrees above zero. «For the icebreaker such conditions are almost extreme. People have to work in severe conditions — temperature in engine-room reaches 60 degrees» — the icebreaker captain Victor Kovalchuk said.
The unique professional level of conducting the operation in Antarctic by FESCO icebreaker deserved the highest appreciation of Russian side and American colleagues. «Krasin» has succeeded in solving all challenges and for the short period of navigation in the Ross Sea it has provided station with necessary fuel, food, medicaments and research equipment. Now the Polar station «McMurdo» is supplied with all necessary things for the work during the year.
Antarctic Program Director of US National Science Foundation Karl Erb sent to captain and crew of FESCO icebreaker «Krasin» a telegram, in which he thanked for assistance, rendered to the Polar Station «McMurdo» — the main science base of American Antarctic Program. As noted in the telegram, «the courage and professionalism of the crew of Russian icebreaker „Krasin“ helped the USA to continue long-term research program in Antarctic.»
The representative of US National Scientific Foundation Antarctic Program Brian Stone, in particular, noticed that «the work you have done astonishes us more and more because we understand how the crew succeeded to cover long and difficult distance from Vladivostok to McMurdo and immediately proceed to work.»
Director of Navy and Inland water transport Federal Agency of the Russian Federation Vyacheslav Rucksha, who officially visited FESCO, highly appreciated the work done by «Krasin».
v. Rucksha thanked Far-Eastern Shipping Company for the effective conducting of operation on pilotage to the US Research Antarctic station McMurdo and noticed, that «we watched closely the passage of «Krasin» and we are thankful that the Russian icebreaker crew didn’t let down us. She showed to the whole world the good name of Russian icebreaker fleet.
Icebreaker’s calling to the port Vladivostok is expected on the 5th of March.