Russian Nuclear Icebreaker and Cargo Ship Collide in Arctic

Newsweek ^ | 1/29/25 | Maya Mehrara, John Feng

[Libloather]

A Russian nuclear icebreaker has been damaged in a collision with a cargo ship in the Arctic Circle, according to Russian media.

The 50 Let Pobedy (50 Years of Victory) icebreaker was attempting to free the freighter Yamal Krechet from ice which was preventing it from reaching the port of Sabetta, in the Kara Sea, according to an expert.

Newsweek reached out to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation for comment via email.

Why It Matters

The 50 Let Pobedy nuclear icebreaker is one of only two remaining vessels in the first-generation Arktika-class still in service, according to the Maritime Executive. The damage sustained could impede its continued service and disrupt Russia's work in the Arctic.

What To Know "The 50 Let Pobedy icebreaker sustained damage of port side edge plating at night on January 26 in the Kara Sea in harsh Arctic conditions, when doing ice cutting. Nobody was injured. Seaworthiness properties were not lost. There is no threat to life support systems and the reactor unit," said Russian state news agency TASS, quoting the nuclear icebreaker's parent company, Atomflot.

The company added that the 50 Let Pobedy is continuing its operations in the Northern Sea route. Atomflot, part of the Rosatom group, maintains the world's only fleet of nuclear-powered icebreakers.

[Libloather]

Icebreaking in the Arctic - shoots right to the top of my 'that job's gotta suck WAY more than mine' list.

[linMcHlp]

bttt

[albie]

I was a roofer when I was 16. That’s a close #2.

[BradyLS]

Could be a fun History Channel series: mover over Ice Road Truckers, here come the Ice Pack Breakers!

[where's_the_Outrage?]

How could this happen as the Artic is supposed to be ice free because of manmade global warming?

[mabarker1]

That’s a close #2.

No a close to #2 is doing Wastewater Treatment, Driving a Suck Truck pumping out Port-A-Potties and doing Home Sewer Cleaning/Repair Work on Septic Tank & Systems.

NEXT !!!

Makes cleaning up Dog 💩 and the Litter Box look like a good time.

[EQAndyBuzz]

I thought global warming is melting the ice caps. Why need an ice breaker?

[Thommas]

We just read last week how "scientists" were forecasting such a loss of Arctic ice that the North Sea passage was imminent.

Why, then, would Russia send a useless icebreaker to free a non-icebound ship?

[Worldtraveler once upon a time]

Ah, that still-new lady "reporter" from NYC working in the UK --- in the text:

"Nobody was injured. Seaworthiness properties were not lost."

Imagine icebreakers. Scraping and crunching and crashing into sea ice. Edge plates take a beating, one can be sure. One also can be sure because of "according to an expert." Without a name.

[butlerweave]

I bet they get lots of Vodka

[BradyLS]

LOL! Zackly!

[aumrl]

Think the crew would rather be in Ukraine ?

[PIF]

Icebreaking in the Arctic - shoots right to the top of my ‘that job’s gotta suck WAY more than mine’ list.
—

Well the crews do have excellent food, saunas, squash courts, high speed internet, & movie theaters etc.

The crews have a choice: work on the ice breaker or take a 2-3 week tour at the front, if they live that long.

[PIF]

I once knew a guy that was a commercial salmon gillnetter who traded that profession for “Driving a Suck Truck pumping out Port-A-Potties and doing Home Sewer Cleaning/Repair Work on Septic Tank & Systems.”

[Libloather]

Saw a YouTube video of a Russian fishing vessel which scooped up tons of fish at a time. The catch would flow downstairs where they would quickly clean and freeze the fishes very quickly. Someone chatted with a mom - she had been aboard for nine months straight. I can’t stop thinking about the smell...

[Mastador1]

Gives “lookout she’s gonna blow” a whole new meaning.

[TheDon]

Hmmm.... perhaps the warmer the climate the more the ice caps will freeze?

[al baby]

and vasiline

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

"Icebreaking in the Arctic - shoots right to the top of my 'that job's gotta suck WAY more than mine' list."

Something like this....

Col. "Airman, I need to get out of here. You better hurry up and get my Aircraft commode pumped out or I'm going to put you on report!"

Airman; "Sir, we are in Ultima Thule, I am an E-1 on the flight line pumping out plane toilets at -30F in the dark. I would be interested to know what you think you can do to me that would make my life any worse!"

(Related by someone here on FR.)

Ultima Thule Airbase

By Air Force Space Command - 20171211-F-SO188-0001, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=89323320

Note.....Its an official AF Space Command promotion picture with stars in a dark blue sky and polar aurora that makes the base look spiffy and sharp. (Note the constellation Orion at the bottom right!)

[PIF]

video of a Russian fishing vessel which scooped up tons of fish at a time. The catch would flow downstairs where they would quickly clean and freeze the fishes very quickly ... I can’t stop thinking about the smell ...

—
Fresh from the ocean fish does not smell - the stink you associate with fish is rotting seafood at your grocer’s fish counter. They refuse to learn how to properly keep and display seafood, treating it as a farm meat, which it is not.

US draggers also catch large amounts of fish which are then processed all the way to boxing and palletizing. A process Russia copied or tried to.