The expedition vessel “Professor Molchanov” set out from Arkhangelsk to the Frantz Josef Land. There are more than 70 specialists on its board, including fighters of the student construction brigade “Gandvik” who will carry out works on the liquidation of environmental damage on the islands of Graham Bell, Hayes and Alexandra Land (FJL), as the press service of the National Park “Russian Arctic” reports.

      Collection and removal of waste from the islands, as well as the restoration of their lands started in 2012 by order of the Government of the Russian Federation given to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. The Customer of the project is FGBI “National Park “Russian Arctic”. “This year we are going to collect and remove at least 8,000 tons of waste from the islands of Frantz Josef Land” - the director of the National Park “Russian Arctic” Roman Ershov stated. “In previous years we managed to surpass the plan. 2 cargo ships – “Mangazeya” and “Pioneer” – also sail from Arkhangelsk to the Frantz Josef Land. They will deliver the staff and the necessary equipment which will be involved in the collection and removal of man-made waste from the region. The cleaning of the islands this year is to be finished by October, the bulk of the works on the removal of the already collected waste to the mainland will take place in the autumn months.