Russian freighter gets stuck in Arctic ice

On its way from Dudinka to Arkhangelsk, the 9,490 ton deadweight freight ship Sparta-III froze into the waters of the Yensiey Bay.

According to the TASS news agency, there is almost no more reserves of fuel and water onboard, while the crew is reportedly fighting hard with icing. In addition, various equipment onboard has frozen.

However, tepeated attempts to break loose have failed and the ship owners have requested assistance from “a big icebreaker.”

As sources report, the icebreaking supply ship Kigoriak is now in the area to assist. The Kigoriak is expected to be able to operate in up to one meter thick ice.

The area is covered by fast ice in the area, a condition that requires solid icebreaking capacity for navigation. However, the Sparta-III only has ice-class 1A, which normally includes icebreaking escort in winter ice.

As a matter of fact, information from the Northern Sea Route Administration, a unit under the Russian Ministry of Transport, shows that the Sparta-III did not have the necessary permissions for sailing in the area.

Furthermore, the freight ship was allowed to sail without icebreaker assistance only in waters either free of ice or with light ice.