An LNG Tanker Just Transited The Northern Sea Route - Without An Icebreaker, In Mid-January
The powerful icebreaking carrier on the 16th January made it through the Chukchi Sea and into the Bering Strait after more than ten days in thick sea-ice. Never before has this voyage been conducted at this time of year.
“It is a historical day for the development of the Northern Sea Route and national shipping,” Transport Minister Vitaly Savelev underlines. He argues that the voyage shows that shipping on the route can be extended with 1-2 month per year, and that it is “a step towards year-round commercial shipments on the route.”
Captain Sergey Gen on the Christophe de Margerie on the 18th January reported to Minister Savelev in a video call. The voyage from the LNG terminal of Sabetta in Yamal to the Bering Strait took a total of 10 days and 21 hours, he informed.
The distance was 2474 nautical miles, of which about 65 percent was sailed astern (backwards). The average speed was 9,5 knots and there was no need for external icebreaking assistance, Captain Gen said.
EDIT
https://thebarentsobserver.com/en/arctic-lng/2021/01/step-closer-year-round-shipments-northern-sea-route