ARKHANGELSK, July 2. /TASS/. The Arctic Floating University expedition left Murmansk for Novaya Zemlya, the expedition's leader Alexander Saburov told TASS. This year, it is for the first time that the expedition voyage onboard the Professor Molchanov scientific research vessel starts not from Arkhangelsk, but from Murmansk.
"We are heading for Novaya Zemlya," the expedition's leader said. "This year, it is for the first time that the expedition starts from Murmansk, the distance from Murmansk to the starting point is somewhat shorter than from Arkhangelsk, we are saving about one day. Of course, this has complicated the expedition logistics, as we had to send from Arkhangelsk about one and a half tons of cargo: equipment, reagents. Anyway, we hope the efforts will pay off and we will have additional time for work."
This year, the expedition will focus on exploring the Barents Sea's northeastern part. The voyage program consists of two blocks: sea and land operations. Specialists have planned three ocean sections in the water area, which will depend on the ice conditions, the expedition's leader continued. Near Novaya Zemlya's north, it is currently favorable from the Barents Sea side, but the Kara Sea is arctic this year, and cohesive ice lies now along the archipelago's entire eastern coast. Therefore, as yet the expedition plans going ashore on the west coast - from the Russian Harbor to Cape Zhelaniya.
