Russia opens Arctic SAR centre on Northern Sea Route

Naryan-Mar is located north of the Arctic Circle on the Pechora River, 68-miles (110 kilometers) upstream its mouth on the Barents Sea.

Russia opens first Arctic search and rescue center

Deputy Minister of EMERCOM Aleksander Chupriyan opening the first Russian SAR center in Naryan-Mar, Nenets (Photo: Andrey Vokuev)

NARYAN_MAR: The first of a total of ten search and rescue centers along the Northern Sea Route has opened in the Nenets Autonomous Okrug.

With increased traffic on the Northern Sea Route comes the need for more onshore safety infrastructure. Russia in 2009 allocated 910 million rubles (app €20.6 million) to construction of ten search and rescue (SAR) centers from Murmansk in the west to Provideniya in the East. All centers are planned to be operational by 2015.

The first of the new SAR centers was officially opened in Naryan-Mar on August 20 by Nenets Governor Igor Fyodorov and Deputy Minister of EMERCOM Aleksander Chupriyan.

The center includes a fire department, a department for search and rescue operations with vehicles and boats, a berth and training facilities.

Similar rescue centers will open in Murmansk, Arkhangelsk, Dudinka, Pevek, Vorkuta, Nadym, Anadyr, Tiksi and Provideniye.

See photos from EMERCOM facilities in Naryan-Mar, Dudinka and Arkhangelsk:

The SAR center in Naryan-Mar hosts the region’s first EMERCOM cadet class. Andrey Vokuev / BarentsObserver

Governor of Nenets Autonomous Okrug Igor Fyodorov openinge the SAR center in Naryan-Mar. Andrey Vokuev / BarentsObserver

The center in Naryan-Mar is the first of ten centers that will open along the Northern Sea Route. Andrey Vokuev / BarentsObserver

EMERCOM representatives in Naryan-Mar. Andrey Vokuev / BarentsObserver

Construction of the new SAR center in Naryan-Mar started in December 2010. Andrey Vokuev / BarentsObserver

Search and rescue facilities in Arkhangelsk on the banks of the Dvina river. Thomas Nilsen / BarentsObserver

Search and rescue facilities in Dudinka on the inlet of the Yenisei river. Thomas Nilsen / BarentsObserver

EMERCOM vehicle in Dudinka. Thomas Nilsen / BarentsObserver

EMERCOM worker in Dudinka. Thomas Nilsen / BarentsObserver