ST. PETERSBURG, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- Russia's nuclear-powered icebreaker Sibir arrived in the Gulf of Finland on Wednesday and has started escorting vessels navigating to and from the port of Primorsk, the Russian Transport Ministry said Thursday.
Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom warned earlier that an unfavorable weather forecast posed a threat to maritime navigation. At the request of the ministry, the corporation dispatched the Sibir to the Gulf of Finland to reinforce icebreaking support.
Russian Transport Minister Andrei Nikitin said that the situation remains manageable, noting that a series of preventive measures had been taken in advance to ensure stable cargo turnover even if ice conditions worsen.
Nikitin added that the ministry is working closely with the Russian Energy Ministry and the Russian Industry and Trade Ministry to coordinate cargo delivery schedules with major shippers under the current ice conditions.
The Sibir is one of Russia's Project 22220 universal nuclear-powered icebreakers built at domestic shipyards. Designed to operate in a wide range of challenging environments, the vessels are capable of supporting navigation both in the Arctic and in freezing ports in Russia's northwest. ■