This will be the second staff rotation at the polar station. It is expected to be larger than the first, which took place in April. Then nine people and the dog Buran were transported to the mainland. The logistical operation was extremely difficult – ten air flights with a total length of 16 thousand kilometers. Now it was decided to send a ship to the station.
dark nights and polar bears
The tenth month has already passed since the opening of the only drifting station “North Pole-41”. Stations of a new format. We remind you that polar explorers live on the ship, the ice-resistant platform of the North Pole, and work both on the ship (it has 15 modern and well-equipped laboratories) and on the ice floe where the camp is installed.
Not so long ago, the first turnover of personnel took place, several scientists returned to the mainland. Among them – an employee of the Research Institute of the Arctic and Antarctic, in the expedition, the leading engineer of the group of ice qualities of ships Vladimir Likhomanov. He told RG about the research and how polar bears visited polar explorers.
Vladimir, what impressed you the most this time in the Arctic?
Vladimir Likhomanov: Although I have been on expeditions to the Arctic ten times, I was again struck by how polar night is at the very edge of the Earth, in the expanses of the Arctic Ocean. You move a little away from the ship and find yourself in bottomless darkness. Especially if the moon doesn’t show. Amazing feeling!
The Arctic in general attracts. Unearthly calm, silence and endless white snow on a polar day. And for the first time I had an unusual experience – I helped our ship’s doctor Denis Kuyarov during a small operation.
Did the owner of the Arctic come to visit?
Vladimir Likhomanov: Twice. First, a mother bear came with two cubs. We’re approaching weather range, she’s four hundred meters from the ship. And after a while, an adult bear appeared, right under her side. But both visits took place at night, when neither person was on the ice anymore. So personal acquaintance was avoided.
Strength test
What were the work tasks of your group?
Vladimir Likhomanov: The ice performance team tested the ice load monitoring system installed on the hull of an ice-resistant self-propelled rig. The system is new, different from those used on previous ships, for example, on the Akademik Treshnikov. And there are more sensors itself, and they are optical, not electrical.
We recorded the moments of compression of the ice. They were few, but they were. And they also worked with sea ice, studying its physical and mechanical properties, to understand what kind of ice is crushed, in terms of strength, thickness.
And how did the platform perform?
Vladimir Likhomanov: The ship perfectly withstood all the loads. Yes, we do not doubt it even before leaving. The ship is archaic. But the data obtained during the expedition can be used to adjust the parameters in the projects of future Arctic ships.
For example, so as not to overload the suitcase unnecessarily. The “North Pole” has a very thick skin, designed to withstand the pressure of many meters of ice. As a result, the case is very heavy, perhaps such a gigantic one was not needed, a smaller one would be enough. But the final data will be received only after the end of the expedition.
Sauna and cinema in the evenings
How was the day at the tramp?
Vladimir Likhomanov: Usually in the morning we made calculations, prepared the equipment, in the afternoon we went out to the ice field. In the evening, the received data was processed. After dinner – scientific meeting. The leaders of the scientific groups (we had eight of them) reported on the work done, plans were formed for the next day.
As for leisure, we try to go to the sauna twice a week. On the ship there is a magnificent sauna with a fountain. Several times – in the gym. After dinner, they still gathered in the living room to watch the film together, and the picture was chosen in turn. A large number of movies were uploaded to the server, and someone else took a personal collection. Sometimes they played computer games. A concert program was prepared for the holidays.
In the corridors of the ship, the “Birds” exhibition was held: photographs or drawings made by members of the expedition and members of the ship’s crew were hung.
Why did you decide to go polar explorers?
Vladimir Likhomanov: My grandfather is a polar explorer, just a ship testing specialist. I entered the Technological Institute, studied for a year and came to work at the Arctic and Antarctic Institute for the summer. And it changed my life plans. I liked it so much that I transferred to “Korabelka” (St. Petersburg State Marine Technical University). And heading to the Arctic. What I do not regret.
All plot materials “The first expedition of the ice-resistant platform “North Pole” to the Arctic: Diary of a critic” RG “read on the website of” Rossiyskaya Gazeta “.
