Four New SAR Centers in the Russian Arctic
Russia has major ambitions in the Arctic, both regarding business development and the Northern Sea Route. Search and rescue services are key. This photo shows an MI-26T, one of the models produced by the producers Russian Helicopters. This model is used for both transportation, evacuation and fire fighting. (Illustration: Russian Helicopters)
Russian authorities have already established five Arctic centers for search and rescue. They are planning to establish another four during the next three years.
Russian authorities have already established five Arctic centers for search and rescue. They are planning to establish another four during the next three years.
The Russian Emergency Ministry will complete the establishing of Arctic SAR centers by the end of 2020, says acting Department Director Maxim Maksimenko.
This was reported by the TASS news agency following a board meeting at the Emergency Ministry.
The four new SAR centers will be established in Tiksi, Anadyr, Pevek and Sabetta. They are all to be completed by the end of 2020.
- The development of the Arctic component as well as protecting the population and the areas of the Arctic region is one of the priorities of the Russian Emergency Ministry in the 2016-2020 period, he says.
Russia has the world’s longest Arctic coastline.
The five centers already established are located in Naryan-Mar, Dudunka, Arkhangelsk, Murmansk and Vorkuta. There are some 280 persons employed at these centers today.
According to Department Director Maksimenko, the Arctic SAR centers led more than 1,500 SAR operations last year. Their efforts are invaluable, he argues.
- The number of emergency situations in the Arctic has dropped more than 20 percent during the past five years, he says in a statement.
Russia has the world’s longest Arctic coastline, which this map – while also showing the Northern Sea Route – illustrates well. (Illustration: Susie Harder/Arctic Council – Arctic marine shipping assessment/Wikimedia commons)