Icebreaker
In May 2007, sea trials were completed for the nuclear-powered Russian icebreaker NS . The vessel was put into service by Murmansk Shipping Company, which manages all eight Russian state-owned nuclear icebreakers. The keel was originally laid in 1989 by Baltic Works of Leningrad, and the ship was launched in 1993 as NS "Ural". This icebreaker was intended to be the sixth and last of the "Arktika" class, and currently is the world's largest icebreaker.
Sparta (ship)
Pack ice meant nearby vessels such as the Norwegian "Seljevaer" and the "Sparta's" Russian sister ship "Chiyo Maru 3" were unable to come to "Sparta's" aid. The crew of the "Sparta", made up of 16 Indonesians, 15 Russians and a Ukrainian researcher, had to wait until 26 December 2011 when the South Korean icebreaker "RV Araon" arrived. One of the "Araon's" first tasks was to pump fuel into the raised side of the "Sparta", thus lifting the damaged hull and exposing it to the air. The hole was patched with a concrete box, after which the ship was deemed seaworthy. The "Araon" cleared a path through the ice for the "Sparta" to follow into open waters, to rejoin her sister ship and sail to New Zealand for repairs.