The Russian polar expedition that started on Saturday received the essential funding under a special decree by President Dmitry Medvedev and a blessing from Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, famous polar explorer Artur Chilingarov said.
The fate of this year's expedition was in doubt over funding problems until a group of renowned Russian explorers and researchers appealed to the president, Chilingarov said on board the nuclear-powered icebreaker Rossiya that left the Murmansk port and set out on a 25-day journey to the North Pole.
This ship will deliver the SP-38 polar station with 15 explorers to a drifting ice floe for a year-long stint.
“Money was provided for the lease of the icebreaker and the operation of the polar station,” he said, adding that a special amendment to this year's budget had to be adopted for the purpose.
The cost of the lease is 2.4 million rubles a day.
A focus of this expedition will be on “scientific substantiation” for Russia's claim to Arctic territories, rich in oil and gas, said Chilingarov, who made headlines in 2007 when he led a Russian expedition that planted a flag on a contested portion of the Arctic seafloor.
“It is not easy to prove that the Arctic shelf belongs to Russia,” he said.
“An attempt was made but only science can prove that it does,” he said, referring to Russia's 2001 claim that was rejected by the UN.
“So we are deeply engrossed in science.”
The Rossiya is carrying special equipment that can “see through” sediment and rock and will be delivered to the polar station “to help substantiate our claims to the Arctic Ocean and the Lomonosov Ridge.”
Chilingarov took a vacation to go on the Arctic journey.
“I am happy to be here – I took a vacation and received a blessing from Vladimir Vladimirovich [Putin],” he said.
He praised the explorers for their dedicated effort.
“Regardless of climate change, no matter whether it is getting warmer or colder, nothing changes for these people: They live and work on ice for almost a year without their families and in extreme conditions – they are true heroes.”
Icebreaker Rossiya, October 3 (RIA Novosti, Alexander Stelliferovsky)
