Northern Sea Route. The multi-purpose nuclear-powered icebreaker Arktika moored at an ice pier in Slobodskaya Bay for the first time this year. An ice pier is a temporary ice structure designed to assist the loading and unloading of ships in the Arctic where onshore ports may be inaccessible. Mooring a ship to an ice pier is considered to be one of the most difficult maneuvers as it requires high accuracy and due account of ice conditions. “With the multi-purpose nuclear icebreakers, we make logistic routes more efficient as we can ensure the mooring of ships to ice piers,” said Vladimir Arutyunyan, First Deputy Director General at Rosatom and Head of the Marine Operations Headquarters at the Northern Sea Route Chief Directorate. Rosatom is the exclusive operator of the Northern Sea Route infrastructure.