ARKHANGELSK, November 13. /TASS/. The Mikhail Somov scientific expedition vessel returned to Arkhangelsk after a mission to resupply polar stations along the Northern Sea Route to Chukotka, head of the Northern Department for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring Roman Yershov told TASS.

"The Mikhail Somov has completed a mission to resupply the national hydrometeorology service's stations in the Arctic," he said. "The current plan is to prepare the vessel for the next season."

The expedition continued for more than two months. The Mikhail Somov departed from Arkhangelsk on September 3. The vessel crossed six Arctic seas along the Northern Sea Route to the Wrangel Island in Chukotka, and sailed back. In the east, the work was complicated by the ice situation, and in the ice the vessel had to sail slowly. Weather conditions a few times delayed work of the helicopter, which carried cargo from the ship to the stations.

The mission's tasks were completed fully. Food, fuel and lubricants, equipment, medicines, spare parts and other necessary cargos were delivered to the hard-to-reach stations of the Northern, Yakut and Chukchi Departments. As part of the Ushakov station's upgrade, a new modular diesel building and an ice observation tower were installed there. Chukotka's Aion, Valkarkai, Rau Chua and Wrangel stations received new diesel generator sets, and a new diesel boiler was delivered to the Ambarchik station. The authority's specialists repaired and serviced meteorological equipment, communications and energy facilities, and software at the polar stations. Additionally, new shift teams were delivered to the hard-to-reach stations.

The voyage began the implementation of a joint project of the Clean Arctic movement and the Northern Department to clean Cape Chelyuskin. This year, the movement's volunteers faced a task to repair one of the premises at the Fedorov station to accommodate ecology activists. Next summer, up to 15 volunteers will be able to stay there during a cleanup mission. The Mikhail Somov has delivered to Arkhangelsk about 50 metal barrels for further processing.