Enduring Vyomorozka: Facing the Extreme Challenges of Ice Ship Maintenance in Siberia

A drone glides just above a snow-blanketed shipyard in Russia’s Far East, capturing the laborious efforts of workers battling subzero temperatures to maintain colossal vessels amidst the harsh Siberian winter.

Workers chip away at the ice encasing the ships, looking for areas in need of repair.

The intricate process known as ‘vyomorozka,’ roughly translating to ‘freezing out,’ demands backbreaking and tedious work that spans weeks, all transpiring in one of the most unforgiving environments on the planet, with temperatures plummeting to as low as minus 50 degrees Celsius (-58 F).

Within this icy landscape, workers diligently chip away at the encasing ice surrounding the ships, meticulously identifying areas in need of repair. The ships are moored in the harbor of Yakutsk, situated on the banks of the Lena River, a vital economic artery for Siberia during the summer but a challenging workspace during the winter months.

Yakutia, Russia’s largest republic in terms of landmass, proudly designates ‘vyomorozka’ as one of the world’s most demanding jobs. However, workers on the ground insist that perspective plays a crucial role.

“Proper dressing is key. When you come inside (a heated building) and undress, it feels like a sauna, steam rising from you,” shared 48-year-old worker Mikhail Klus during a break from wielding a chainsaw to cut through the ice. “I don’t think it’s the hardest job — there are jobs even harder than that, but it’s probably one of the hardest jobs… One needs to try to understand, needs to love the cold and working in it.”

The job necessitates not only physical stamina and strength but also demands extreme precision. Workers must ensure they do not cut through the ice too hastily, risking breakthroughs to the water beneath. Any inadvertent submersion can render the carved-out section useless, resulting in lost effort.

Paradoxically, the colder the weather, the better the ice freezes, and the smoother the job progresses, although the plummeting temperatures take a toll on some workers.

“Sometimes, when you freeze, you feel negative emotions from it,” commented 22-year-old Artyom Kovalec, bundled under layers of coats with a pickaxe in his mittened hands. “You feel it’s too cold to work, you want to go home, to eat and relax, so you have to get a grip on yourself.”