Hundreds of sunken ships lie on the bottom of the Arctic Ocean and the large and small rivers of the Polar region. Among them, one can find artefacts from various eras, ranging from nuclear submarines of the Cold War to small civilian vessels of the present day. The ranks of the 'drowned' are replenished annually, as the Arctic waters are unforgiving to ships. However, today they have learned to raise them quickly and efficiently. For instance, in January 2024, the ship Schastlivy sank right in the seaport of Murmansk, and plans are in place to raise it to the surface in the summer. Also, in June 2024, there are plans to raise the sunken platform Paratov in the port of Arkhangelsk. The work should be completed by the end of the year. Another question remains—what to do with the accumulated legacy of the past? According to data from the Remember the War expedition, 49 ships from the Great Patriotic War era lie in the waters of the European part of the Arctic, and there are more than a hundred sunken ships in the Kola Bay area. In the basin of the Lena River in Yakutia, there is a famous 'ship graveyard'—296 ships on the bottom significantly complicate navigation.

Shipwrecks are a headache for environmentalists and captains alike. The article 'Impact of Sunken Ships on the Ecological State of Coastal Waters, Aquatoria and Coastal Zones of the Russian Federation' notes that there are remnants of oil products on board the sunken ships, the hulls are covered with paints containing mercury, antimony and other toxic substances, and metals are degrading. Together, this poisons the soil and water, which inevitably affects the state of biodiversity in the region and the safety of coastal settlements. Of course, this is not an instantaneous ecological catastrophe—degradation occurs rather slowly, so the Arctic still has time to address the challenges at hand, according to the authors of the article. Incidentally, in addition to the environmental aspect, there is also a safety aspect—captains also dislike 'artificial reefs,' although this is more relevant to river navigation and ports. Last year, fishermen in the Murmansk Region complained to senators of the Federation Council that the accumulated wrecks were hindering navigation.

Until recently, the problem of sunken ships in the Arctic was purely theoretical. As always, the issue was the vast distances, harsh climate and sparse infrastructure that made it impossible to even begin addressing the problem. In 2024, Russia is already gradually tackling the tasks at hand, as the necessary capacity is beginning to take shape in the country. The Far East is currently the pioneer—last year on Sakhalin, Rosatom tested a new laser installation that allows for the efficient cutting of ship hulls. Amendments have also been made to the legislation—it is now prohibited to intentionally sink vessels, with fines imposed for violations. A representative of Deputy Prime Minister Viktoria Abramchenko stated in an interview with RBC that the leadership has carried out work to optimise administrative procedures related to the disposal of ships. The successful experience is likely to be in high demand in the North.

The Arctic is currently in the 'contemplative' stage of the process—the full scope of abandoned ships, their locations and potential risks during disposal are being identified. In Chukotka, there are plans to raise 3 sunken ships from the bottom of Emma Bay in 2024. It's not an easy task—it requires specialised equipment and numerous precautionary measures. Divers from St. Petersburg had to be called in to determine exactly how the sunken ships could be salvaged. Improper lifting of old wrecks can lead to the leakage of fuel residues and the sudden destruction of the structure, accompanied by a sharp release of toxic substances into the water. After being raised, the ships will be cut into pieces and transported outside the region for disposal.

A separate issue facing the regional authorities is the financing of these projects. In 2023, the Legislative Assembly of the Murmansk Region noted that approximately RUB 2.8 bn would be required to raise the known sunken ships. The leadership of the Nenets Autonomous Area, also concerned about the problem of their own 'drowned,' added that the cost of raising a single vessel ranges from RUB 3 mn to RUB 20 mn, not including the expenses for disposing of the object. For now, the issue of project financing is being discussed at the federal level.

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