Okhotsk Sea crisis

RAENORTH · **Posted:** Wed Jan 05, 2011 2:18 pm

We were not wrong in predicting that the Okhotsk Sea drama still had a way to go. The latest news from the Russian media (as of early morning Moscow time) was that the icebreaker Admiral Makarov was currently towing to safe waters the 1,300-ton trawler, Mys Yelizavety (Cape Elizabeth). The ship has been singled out for attention as it was less than half a mile from the shore and was in danger of being grounded by the moving ice.

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SandyRham · **Joined:** Sun Jul 03, 2005 11:11 am **Posts:** 6700

Imagine the coal/fuel oil equivalent of the nuclear power those icebreakers will use as they play out this drama. I'd bet that even converting most of the ship to fuel bunkers they still wouldn't be able to carry that much coal/oil.
A fraction of the blox spent on wind could upgrade what's left of our commercial fleet to nuclear giving it a huge edge with no fuelling waits.

RAENORTH · **Posted:** Wed Jan 05, 2011 2:38 pm

SandyRham wrote:

Imagine the coal/fuel oil equivalent of the nuclear power those icebreakers will use as they play out this drama. I'd bet that even converting most of the ship to fuel bunkers they still wouldn't be able to carry that much coal/oil.
A fraction of the blox spent on wind could upgrade what's left of our commercial fleet to nuclear giving it a huge edge with no fuelling waits.

Drop the price of British nuclear submarines as well ... they use the same powerplants. The use of nuclear propulsion for an icebreaker is a really intelligent solution though ... it means the ship can stay on station for long periods - six months, without having to break off to refuel. And, considering how few icebreakers there now are, this is a very necessary attribute.

FU (Fed Up) · **Joined:** Mon Aug 01, 2005 8:47 pm **Posts:** 4434

Why isn't David Shukman up there giveing us hourly updates and live interviews on the News at Ten???????

SandyRham · **Joined:** Sun Jul 03, 2005 11:11 am **Posts:** 6700

Russian sailors, Columbian miners, why the difference?

RAENORTH · **Posted:** Wed Jan 05, 2011 3:30 pm

SandyRham wrote:

Russian sailors, Columbian miners, why the difference?

Wasn't it Chile? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-11518015

But the point is well made! It struck me that there is a drama here on a far greater scale ... although there are the obvious differences, that there are no up-to-date TV pictures - ITN is relying on stock footage of the NSR - and no weeping families to film.

FU (Fed Up) · **Joined:** Mon Aug 01, 2005 8:47 pm **Posts:** 4434

Quote:

But the point is well made! It struck me that there is a drama here on a far greater scale

Are you serious?????

How the hell could the Al-Beeb report large ships being stuck in ever thickening ice in the middle of winter, the reporter might let it slip out that it is minus 20 with a blizzard blowing......that just doesn't happen anymore..../ Even worse imagine the producers panic, if a family of polar bears wandered into view and started gamboling around, during a live shot.

DerekReynolds · **Joined:** Sun Aug 29, 2010 12:41 pm **Posts:** 241

Richard, I think the picture of the Ice Breaker close towing the merchant ship is the YAMAL, not the 50 LET POBEDY.

Copied from the wrong thread!!: -

With reference to Ice Breakers, there are several shots of the named Russian ships on You Tube, the YAMAL included.

Listen to the Skipper of this Breaker speaking of the thickness his ship can break:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGoygEg7 ... re=related

The YAMAL (you might like the music, you might hate it, so 'mute' or not)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wM-4IY6Ef14

This is impressive: The 50 LET POBEDY getting to the North Pole with a good RTE commentator and camera work:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6OHHGrV ... re=related
[This clip also tells of fuel consumption in comparison to fuel oil.]

WHOOPS! How thick is that ice Mr. BBC? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12099928 PDT_Armataz_02_11

SandyRham · **Joined:** Sun Jul 03, 2005 11:11 am **Posts:** 6700

So it has handled 18 metres of pack ice? 60 feet?
But he did say 2 metres of solid unbroken ice is their limit, which is what they're facing out there.

RAENORTH · **Posted:** Wed Jan 05, 2011 4:32 pm

DerekReynolds wrote:

Richard, I think the picture of the Ice Breaker close towing the merchant ship is the YAMAL, not the 50 LET POBEDY.

Yes, you are right ... I've amended the blog post.

RAENORTH · **Posted:** Wed Jan 05, 2011 4:36 pm

SandyRham wrote:

So it has handled 18 metres of pack ice? 60 feet?
But he did say 2 metres of solid unbroken ice is their limit, which is what they're facing out there.

Yeah ... but that's only a little tiddler of an icebreaker ... but he did also say the limit is two metres of sheet (unbroken) ice ... this is hummocked to two metres (although probably more) so they should be able to handle it ... although slow going. Difficult to see how a close-coupled tow can deal with it though ... and they have to make multiple attacks, backing up each time ... interesting stuff.

RAENORTH · **Posted:** Wed Jan 05, 2011 4:37 pm

FU (Fed Up) wrote:

Quote:

But the point is well made! It struck me that there is a drama here on a far greater scale

Are you serious?????

How the hell could the Al-Beeb report large ships being stuck in ever thickening ice in the middle of winter, the reporter might let it slip out that it is minus 20 with a blizzard blowing......that just doesn't happen anymore..../ Even worse imagine the producers panic, if a family of polar bears wandered into view and started gamboling around, during a live shot.

rosie · **Joined:** Sun Dec 11, 2005 12:21 am **Posts:** 2193

RAENORTH wrote:

SandyRham wrote:

So it has handled 18 metres of pack ice? 60 feet?
But he did say 2 metres of solid unbroken ice is their limit, which is what they're facing out there.

Yeah ... but that's only a little tiddler of an icebreaker ... but he did also say the limit is two metres of sheet (unbroken) ice ... this is hummocked to two metres (although probably more) so they should be able to handle it ... although slow going. Difficult to see how a close-coupled tow can deal with it though ... and they have to make multiple attacks, backing up each time ... interesting stuff.

Unless you've defected to the BBC Imperial measurements please.

RAENORTH · **Posted:** Wed Jan 05, 2011 5:33 pm

rosie wrote:

RAENORTH wrote:

SandyRham wrote:

So it has handled 18 metres of pack ice? 60 feet?
But he did say 2 metres of solid unbroken ice is their limit, which is what they're facing out there.

Yeah ... but that's only a little tiddler of an icebreaker ... but he did also say the limit is two metres of sheet (unbroken) ice ... this is hummocked to two metres (although probably more) so they should be able to handle it ... although slow going. Difficult to see how a close-coupled tow can deal with it though ... and they have to make multiple attacks, backing up each time ... interesting stuff.

Unless you've defected to the BBC Imperial measurements please.

I don't mind Russians using metric ... or reporting what the Russians report ... translations are a bit silly sometimes.

_AKM_ · **Joined:** Sat Sep 11, 2010 11:46 pm **Posts:** 167

Got to say, Richard; Fantastic reporting! PDT_Armataz_01_37

Factual, timely & informative so I actually learn something new and can follow & understand what is going on. You're making the MSM look about as competent as a new-born.

Okhotsk Sea crisis

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