Page 49 - Журнал Sozvezdye Review - «СОЗВЕЗДИЕ» #40

dents. Therefore, the Emergencies Ministry is nego-
tiating with Rosneft the possibility of integrating its
emergency rescue infrastructure in Vostok Oil project
while at the design stage. Rosneft expressed its readi-
ness to accommodate the rescue forces.
In Novatek’s Sabetta-based rotation camp, AIERC
will be housed in a three-storey building. Novatek
confirmed its plan to repurpose the building and
build a garage for the Emergencies Ministry’s equip-
ment and machinery.
For more complete coverage of the land territories
of the RF Arctic Zone and the waters of the Northern
Sea Route, the Emergencies Ministry is setting up its
air rescue teams in Murmansk, Arkhangelsk, Sabetta,
Dikson, Tiksi, Pevek and Anadyr.
The Russian Arctic’s third satellite imagery pro-
cessing center in Anadyr can be put into operation as
early as 2023–2024.
In 2021, the Russian President instructed the gov-
ernment to provide the Emergencies Ministry with
extra funding for the purchase, in 2022-2025, of nine
Mi-38 helicopters and four Mi-8 helicopters suitable
for operation in the Arctic. The amount of RUB 18
billion was allocated by the government already in
May.
The air rescue teams in Murmansk and Arkhan-
gelsk will now be provided with Mi-8 helicopters
with operating range of up to 350 kilometers. Sabet-
ta, Dikson, Tiksi, Pevek and Anadyr will receive thir-
teen Mi-38s with operating range of up to 750 kilo-
meters. The refueling possibility onboard the current
and prospective nuclear-powered icebreakers extends
this range almost two-fold, allowing for the complete
coverage of the Northern Sea Route. Beyond that, all
AIERCs are expected to have UAV ground control
stations by 2027.

Plans for future

Further development of the Arctic emergency res-
cue infrastructure should be carried out in close co-
operation with the owners of the Arctic infrastruc-
ture projects. One essential requirement is that these
projects commit to environmental responsibility and
adhere to relevant environmental measures. We are
reminded of the words our president said in his ad-
dress to the Federal Assembly: “If you profited from
nature, clean up after yourself.” Environmental coop-
eration is maintained with Arctic’s largest industries:
Novatek, Rosneft, Lukoil, Gazprom, and Rosatom.
In addition, it might be advisable to deploy the
Emergencies Ministry’s fire and rescue teams near
sources of hazard. This would make it possible to
cope with the entire range of tasks assigned to Arctic
emergency rescue services (transportation of rescu-
ers, humanitarian aid, casualties evacuation, etc.). As
part of its efforts to ensure safety along the Northern
Sea Route, the Emergencies Ministry cooperates with
Rosatom on the use of helipads onboard nuclear ice-
breakers for refueling purposes.
Another set of tasks before the Russian Emergen-
cies Ministry deals with prevention and response to Northern Sea Route with Global Maritime Distress
the emergencies occurring on Arctic subsea facili- and Safety System facilities; construction of ice-re-
ties. They are potential sources of hazard and are duly inforced rescue ships and support vessels; equipping
monitored, and kept record of, by the ministry. icebreakers with emergency preparedness and medi-
To be able to tackle these tasks effectively, the cal equipment; development of dual-purpose port in-
Emergencies Ministry considers two options. One is frastructures; among others. SOZVEZDYE #40
to construct, by 2025, an ice-reinforced rescue vessel In addition, the Emergencies Ministry has teamed
that would be based in Arkhangelsk and operate in up with Ministry of the Development of Russian Far
the Barents, White and Kara Seas. The other option East, Ministry of Transport, FMBA and Rosatom for
is to hire the vessels of the Ministry of Transport Ma- the development of “rescue standard” for the Arctic безопасность
rine Rescue Service. Zone. Work is in process to elaborate a set of GOST safety
On 1 August 2022, the Russian Government en- standards to regulate the safety frameworks for the
dorsed the Northern Sea Route development plan for Russian Arctic.
the period up to 2035. Its section on “Emergency Res- Once fulfilled, these measures will enable the
cue Infrastructure” lists fourteen activities, of which Emergencies Ministry to effectively deal with the en-
seven are coordinated by the Emergencies Minis- tire range of Arctic safety issues while achieving the
try and include creation of AIERCs; installing the tasks set out in the Arctic development strategy 2035. 47