Crew of Russian icebreaker awarded by U.S. National Science Foundation

The crew of the icebreaker Krasin has been granted the Certificate of Merit of the Antarctic program of the National Science Foundation of the U.S. for assistance to the American Antarctic station McMurdo.

On Thursday the press service of the Far Eastern Marine Shipping Line reported that the Certificate of Merit is granted for the use of inordinate methods in unusual conditions.

During this winter's navigation period, the icebreaker Krasin delivered supplies to the U.S. Antarctic station McMurdo, doing the job usually done by two icebreakers of the U.S. Coast Guards.

The work of the Krasin crew evoked the admiration of American colleagues, who decided to grant it the annual NSF award, the press service said.

A coordinator of the NSF's Antarctic Program wrote in a letter that it was pleasant to see such high professionalism and competence of Krasin's captain and crew and everyone else who ensured the success of the operation.

The icebreaker undertook the operation of assistance to the McMurdo Station on the instructions of the Russian government. The crew fulfilled all tasks, helping to deliver fuel, foodstuffs, medicines and research equipment to the station during the short navigation period in the Ross Sea.

Experts say that American ships would not have reached the Antarctic shores without the powerful Russian icebreaker. The failure to deliver supplies to the station would have curtailed the many-year-long program of Antarctic observations and studies.