Russian technologies for rescuing people in the Arctic have export potential, stated Alexander Bondar, Director of the Department of Educational, Scientific and Technical Activities of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations, at the EEF 2024. According to him, Russia can become a reliable partner for foreign countries not only in the Arctic but also in other regions of the world. However, this is not so much about new all-terrain vehicles or helicopters, but rather about the fundamental principles of organising the rescue system itself in extreme climate conditions.

Today, a network of four emergency rescue centres is being constructed in the Russian Arctic, which will cover the entire area of the North Sea Route. In June, the first of these centres was opened in Pevek, and another one is set to be commissioned next year near Sabetta. Their main advantage is the co-location of the rescue unit, management authority and aviation component. Fifty staff members have access to a full range of necessary equipment: all-terrain vehicles, trucks, high-mobility equipment, boats, hovercraft and helicopters, as well as modern communication and surveillance systems. In particular, it is planned to widely use drones for reconnaissance and monitoring the condition of the assigned area of responsibility. A total of seven aviation units are planned to be stationed in Anadyr, Arkhangelsk, Dikson, Murmansk, Pevek, Sabetta, Tiksi and Khatanga. They will be equipped with Mi-8 helicopters in Arctic configuration and Mi-38 helicopters, capable of flying distances of up to 750 km. This measure is expected to cover the entire Arctic—previously, rescuers had to fly from major regional centres, which significantly slowed down emergency and rescue operations.

An example is the recent rescue of a sailor by specialists from the first Arctic emergency rescue centre in Pevek. The sailor was carried far away from the ship in a lifeboat—EMERCOM staff surveyed the area with a Mi-8 helicopter and safely returned the man to the vessel. Without aviation support, the victim would have been left to fend for himself or at the mercy of the waves, not to mention the response time from the mainland. The straight-line distance between the capital of the Chukotka Autonomous Area, Anadyr and Pevek is 634 km, which exceeds the maximum flight range of the Mi-8 without refuelling. Even if we assume that ideal weather conditions prevail at the time of the request for assistance, the journey would still take several hours, during which much can happen.

The speed of response is the key factor for success—the Arctic is unforgiving to those who fail. An accident in the waters of the Arctic Ocean, with its lethally cold water, can cost the crew their lives much more quickly than in more hospitable parts of the planet. According to Bogdan Gavkalyuk, Head of the St. Petersburg University of the State Fire Service of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations, the foundation of a successful rescue operation in the Arctic is rapid decision-making and its immediate execution. Rapid response centres, equipped with everything necessary, enable rescuers to swiftly tackle assigned tasks, the number of which is increasing in proportion to the pace of Arctic development. Last year, Head of the EMERCOM Daniil Martynov reported 42 incidents in the waters of the North Sea Route over the past five years. According to him, ensuring safety is a challenge that requires a new approach to organising the service.

However, beyond innovations in building a system for monitoring and managing emergency response in the Arctic, Russian rescuers have traditionally been valued by the international community as a source of valuable practical experience. According to Alexander Bondar, representatives from nearly 20 countries have already registered for the upcoming exercises in January 2025, with a similar number attending last year's Safe Arctic 2023 event in Murmansk. The event involved 650 pieces of equipment and 3,500 specialists, who were tasked with solving 110 scientific and practical challenges. In particular, the exercises included testing new equipment, extinguishing a fire on a nuclear icebreaker and conducting emergency repairs on power grids.

During the exercises, Russian rescuers traditionally demonstrate a high level of coordination between various services, enabling them to solve complex tasks in the shortest possible time. It seems this is precisely what foreign partners are eager to learn—EMERCOM is exporting its expertise and efficiency.

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