VLADIVOSTOK, August 1 (Itar-Tass) - The Sakhalin shipping company launched a shipping line between the United States and Chukotka. The motorship Kunashir of this shipping company, which took onboard 350 containers with cargoes at the U.S. port Everett, headed for the Chukotka port Pevek on Thursday and is expected to arrive in this harbour on the coast of the Arctic Ocean on August 8, the directorate of the Sakhalin shipping company told Itar-Tass on Thursday.

The Sakhalin shipping company assigns two large-tonnage ships on the U.S.-Chukotka shipping line. The ships will bring from Everett to Pevek the equipment for the mining industry in the Chukotka autonomous area. The navigation season between the U.S. and Chukotka will last until October.

For the navigation safety of the motorships of the Sakhalin sea shipping company the icebreaker Admiral Makarov of the Far Eastern sea shipping company that is on duty off the Cape Dezhnev will lead them along the Northern Sea Route. For a brief navigation season the ships of the Sakhalin shipping company plan to make four trips between the United States and Chukotka.