On March 15, 1985, while discharging cargo for Russkaya Station, the Soviet research vesselMikhail Somovbecame beset and began drifting. Despite every effort, her captain was unable to extricate her from the ice; of the 130 men on board 77 were transferred by helicopter to other vessels beyond the ice edge. The icebreakerVladivostok(26,000 hp) was sent south to rescue the entrapped vessel. Satellite information in the form of both radar and infrared imagery, combined with ice data from helicopter reconnaissance flights, greatly facilitated the icebreaker's progress.Mikhail Somovwas successfully freed on July 26. The experience gained from this winter voyage byVladivostokwould indicate that year‐round navigation is feasible using icebreakers, such asVladivostokin the area into which she penetrated.