At least 18 ships are stuck in Arctic sea ice off the coast of Russia after an unexpected early freeze took shipping companies by surprise, reports the Independent.
Some could be stranded for months as they wait for icebreakers to reach them.
Thick ice traps ships
In recent years warmer weather triggered by climate change has allowed ships to cross parts of Russia’s northern sea route in November without the help of icebreakers. Ship owners had assumed this month would be no different.
However, ice up to 30cm thick has already formed across most of the Laptev Sea and East Siberian seas, according to the Barents Sea Observer, a Norwegian news site.
Shipping companies caught unaware by the early freeze may now have to wait days for ice breakers to reach their vessels.
They are blaming an inaccurate weather forecast by Russia’s Met Office for the incident.
Icebreakers dispatched
Officials in Russia have dispatched two icebreakers to free the stranded ships, which include two oil tankers and cargo ships. Authorities said they hoped to free the boats by next month.
The sea freeze over happened despite temperatures in October recorded at up to 4C warmer than is usual for Russia’s Arctic coast.
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