Ice Traps Four-Vessel Convoy off Chukotka

The Arctic A convoy of four vessels, two bulk carriers and two icebreakers, is trapped by ice off the coast of Chukotka Peninsula, according to Russian Emergencies Ministrys Directorate for the Chukotka Autonomous Area. The two bulk carriers, Johann Mahmastal and Sinegorsk, operated by Rosmorport, arrived in the town of Pevek via the Northern Sea Route in early January. The vessels departed Pevek accompanied by the two icebreakers and were en route to the Arctic Region loaded with construction material for a floating nuclear station when they were met with ice conditions which measure ten points on a ten-point-scale, TASS news agency reports. The convoy is currently anchored near Cape Shelagsky in the East Siberian Sea, surrounded by a one-meter-thick ice. The crews onboard the vessels are currently in no need of food or water supplies, the regional directorate said. A helicopter was dispatched on Wednesday, January 18, to explore the ice cover over the region. World Maritime News Staff