File:Four ships stranded in the Arctic Ocean (Copernicus).jpg

English: In recent years, a diminished presence of sea ice in late October and early November has allowed extensive navigation along Russia's vast Arctic coast. In 2021, however, a large swathe of the remote Arctic waters was already covered in sea ice by the end of October. Due to the early formation of thick layers of sea ice, more than 20 ships were stranded in the Arctic Ocean while crossing the Laptev Sea. Thanks to the intervention of icebreakers, several of the ships were freed and escorted to their destination port. However, as shown in this image acquired by one of the two Copernicus Sentinel-1 satellites on 20 November, the bulk carrier Kumpula, the container ship Severniy Proect, the cargo ship Selenga, and the Vladimiri Rusanov tanker were still stranded about ninety kilometres northwest of Bennett Island in the Arctic Ocean. Copernicus Sentinel-1 satellites provide useful information about the development of ice conditions in the Arctic. For instance, the provision of data on sea ice helps to improve ship routing services, offshore operations and search and rescue operations, thus contributing to marine safety.