ST. PETERSBURG, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- Russia's nuclear-powered icebreaker Sibir has cleared a buildup of vessels trapped by heavy ice in the Gulf of Finland, Alexei Likhachev, director general of Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom, said Saturday.
According to Likhachev, Russia's Transport Ministry requested Rosatom's assistance in early February to cope with an unusually harsh winter that had blocked dozens of ships in ports in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region, disrupting normal operations.
"We could not ignore the request. On Feb. 18, our newest nuclear icebreaker Sibir arrived to ensure the uninterrupted operation of the port of Primorsk," Likhachev said. "As of today, the icebreaker has accomplished its key task. The congestion of vessels in its section has been cleared. The icebreaker continues to provide escort services as scheduled."
Likhachev added that the icebreaker has been working around the clock to assist navigation in the icy waters. ■