Figure 5.1 Principal particulars of the Kandalaksha and location of sensors and instruments on board
[4] A number of engineering issues in the NSR operation were clarified in the course of the voyage and discussions were held with the crew regarding their experience in NSR navigation.
[5] In addition to the measurement of salinity and temperature of the seawater, meteorological observations such as air temperature, air pressure and cloud formation were conducted to study the natural conditions along the route.
[6] The feasibility of the NSR as a commercial sea lane was discussed on the basis of the data obtained from this voyage and the available literature, as well as the opinions of crew members on board.
[7] The SOF mission party for the experimental voyage included a professional TV and video director and camera crew, who recorded the party's activities and produced documentary videos in English and Japanese.
To fulfill this multiple mission, the SOF selected an international team of eighteen members for the voyage, consisting of 15 Japanese, 2 Russians and 1 Canadian. All members were experts in their respective fields, such as naval architecture, navigation, instrumentation, oceanography, meteorology and hydrography. These experts collaborated closely with the crew to carry out all observation, measurement and analytical tasks on the mission program successfully. Firmly committed to the objective of opening the NSR to substantial traffic, Captain Sokolov and all 31 Russian crewmembers surmounted the formidable language barrier between the crew and the international experts to make an important contribution to the experimental voyage.
5.3 Test Results
In this experimental voyage, the Kandalaksha left the port of Yokohama on August 1, 1995 and reached the northern Norwegian port of Kirkenes on August 28, completing a successful voyage. The ice conditions were highly unusual in 1995.
