Fred's Logbook
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| Date / Time: 2011-07-28 16:14:05 | Voyage from: to | ETA: |
| Fred-Report: Russia! I made it! During the early morning hours we arrived at the mouth of the Kola Fjord, where a pilot came on board and joined our bridge team. Just before 08:00 hrs we reached Murmansk, which is located at the far northwestern end of Russia. I had learned that the port of Murmansk remains ice-free all year round and is therefore a very important place for Russia. A lot of fishermen call it their home-port and it is a major shipping destination. Murmansk has become the most important submarine base for Russia and is also the home port to Atomflot, the world¡¦s only fleet of nuclear powered ice-breakers. Once we were tied up alongside over a dozen Officials boarded the MS National Geographic Explorer and clearance procedures took place. Everything went a lot smoother than anyone could have expected and after only a little over an hour the ship was cleared.  I was keen on joining the excursion, visiting all kinds of sights in and around Murmansk. Our ships¡¦ Doctor, Jack, took me along on the tour. We boarded the buses in pouring rain and took off for the Nuclear Icebreaker Lenin.  We explored the ship. I got to sit on the Chief Engineers chair and took a close look at the model of a nuclear reactor.   Manning the helm on the bridge was great fun.  A really long table is furnishing the conference room; I felt sort of lost sitting at it all by myself.  At the shipping companies museum we found a glass ice-bear, who tried to eat me.  Luckily Jack was around... We enjoyed a lunch break at a local restaurant with Russian musicians entertaining us. After lunch we stopped at the Regional Natural and Cultural History Museum ¡V where I had a portrait in a Sami dress taken. Our last stop was the Aloysha statue. The statue was set up as a memorial to all the northern Soviet soldiers participating in the Second World War. At the foot of the statue is a perpetual fire and a lot flower bouquets in remembrance of the lost soldiers. From here one also has a fantastic view over the harbor area.  Back on board we celebrated our arrival in Russian territorial waters with a little BBQ and drinks on the aft deck.  written by Dr Jack Putnam / Ship's Doctor & Esther Bruns / Purser Photos          | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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