Børge Ousland

Leaving Murmansk at last! (Photos: Irena Jovanovic)

…and sailing out the fjord.

Update 21.15: A short while ago we got clearance, and are now sailing out the Murmansk Fjord. The tide is with us. As soon as we reach the open sea, we’ll chart a course toward the Northeast Passage.

Cheers!
Thorleif, Børge & Stanislav
.

PS. As we leave Murmansk behind, we would like to thank our friends, and the great many people who showed us such warm Russian hospitality in this port city. Below are a few photos. (Scroll down, and you will see we have also added more than a dozen photos to other blog entries.)

Sascha and Irina Orlov, owners of Barneo Ice Camp – the northernmost in the world.

Our friend and sponsor Frederik Paulsen gave us a bottle of Champagne – to be opened in celebration when we reach Oslo in three months time.

My friend and fellow expeditioner David Hempelman Adams also happened to be in Murmansk.

And last but not least our good friend Victor Boyarski, who has helped us and our Northern Passage 2010 Expedition in too many ways to count. Here on board icebreaker NS “Lenin”.

Our third crew member for the Northeast Passage is Stanislav, whom we call Stas, here with his girlfriend Irena.

We are are still trying to get the last piece of the puzzle in place: certification of Search & Rescue Insurance. There is so much unexpected back-and-forth. The delays are incredibly frustrating! We’re checking out more alternatives, doing everything we can to speed up the process – but at the moment it looks like we’ll be unable to leave today.

Update 14.15: Finally! We’ve got our proof of insurance. Planning to leave Murmansk at 16.30.

Update 18.40: We’ve moved to a different harbour. Now awaiting border & customs personnel, and their clearance before departure. It really does look like Thorleif, Stas and I are actually leaving today!

Irina (a different Irina!) at the Murmansk Shipping Company has been of great help to us.

Captain Thorleifsson meeting with Reso Insurance Company.

Finally! The “missing piece” is now in place: our confirmation of valid Search & Rescue Insurance. The insurer approved highly of our boat…

…and of course a couple of days ago the doctor certified that the three of us are in excellent condition!