The hydrographic enterprise of "Rosatom" has performed a record volume in the Northern Sea Route water area in the history of modern Russia. Based on the results of the summer-autumn navigation in 2021, a survey of 83.6 thousand reduced km of bottom topography was carried out (equivalent to 41.5 thousand linear km).
Navigation and hydrographic support (NGS) of the Northern Sea Route has been completed in 2021. In comparison to last year, the Hydrographic Enterprise has almost doubled the volume of research in the water area - from 46.6 thousand to 83.6 thousand reduced km. The work was performed in accordance with the long-term plan of the NGS of the Northern Sea Route for 2021-2025, approved by the State Corporation Rosatom. Despite the difficult hydrometeorological and ice navigation conditions in 2021, in terms of hydrographic work, the long-term plan of the NGS was fulfilled by 102.5%.
In accordance with the NGS plan, in 2021, the Hydrographic Enterprise also installed autonomous power supplies on 17 illuminated navigation signs, set up and surveyed 96 buoys, and serviced 193 non-floating aids to navigation. Now the vessels of the Hydrographic Enterprise are returning to their permanent bases.
The record volume of research in 2021 was achieved due to the high professionalism of the expedition personnel and crew members, correct actions in harsh ice conditions and the use of high-tech equipment. The high rate of research will be maintained in the future, in order to increase the number of recommended routes on the Northern Sea Route. If from 2011 to 2020 the total volume of research of the water area amounted to 377 thousand reduced kilometers, then from 2021 to 2025 430 thousand reduced kilometers will be investigated.
Reduced kilometers are the number of kilometers traveled by the vessel during the measurements, multiplied by the reduction factor (depending on the speed of the vessel and other factors). The need to measure the volumes of the bottom topography survey in the reduced kilometers arose at the Hydrographic Enterprise due to the use of echo sounders of previous generations. Today, the company operates modern 5th generation echo sounders, which allow obtaining high reliability data, regardless of other factors. From 2022, the Hydrographic Enterprise will measure the volume of hydrographic work according to generally accepted modern standards - in linear kilometers. This is the distance traveled by the vessel during the bottom contour survey on the tack (from one turn to the next).
Source: Hydrographic Enterprise