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Mikhail Somov ship leaves for Arctic to deliver cargoes to polar stations

It is the fourth trip this year

ARKHANGELSK, October 26 (Itar-Tass) - The research expedition ship Mikhail Somov left the north Russian port of Arkhangelsk for the Arctic on its concluding trip to deliver cargoes to the polar stations for the winter.

The ship is carrying specialists, polar researchers and workers, and life-support cargoes to remote stations on the coast and islands in the White, Barents and Kara seas, press secretary Yelena Novikova of the northern hydro-meteorological service, to which the vessel belongs, told Itar-Tass.

A total of 826 t of fuel and lubricants, about 130 t of food products, about 80 t of medicines, equipment, clothes, 100 cubic m of firewood and 15 t of coal will be delivered. The Mikhail Somov has also snow mobiles and diesel generators aboard.

The ship will also deliver modules and metal house constructions to the hydro-meteorological stations, Novikova said. Construction of houses comfortable for life under hard Arctic conditions has become possible with the funds provided in accordance with a federal programme, she noted.

The Mikhail Somov is expected to return to Arkhangelsk on December 1 after its cruise of about 8,000 miles in the northern seas. It is the fourth trip this year. On the last Arctic trip, the longest (it lasted for about three months), the ship took the entire northern sea route to the Chukchi Sea, delivering reserves to polar stations for a year and also carrying fresh groups of researchers to replace those at the stations.