VLADIVOSTOK, APRIL 20, (RIA Novosti's Anatoly Ilyukhov) - The M/S Vasily Golovnin serving with Russia's Far Eastern shipping company opened the eastern Arctic navigation season one month ahead of schedule (on previous years), delivering 6,000 tons of freight to the Chukchee Peninsula.

Talking to RIA Novosti April 20, officials at the Chukchee autonomous-area government's press center noted that the Vasily Golovnin dry-cargo carrier stored construction materials and equipment (that will be used to build a school and a daycare center), as well as 12 modular homes and other equipment, too.

The M/S Vasily Golovnin would be expected to reach Chukotka thrice by late June. This decision, which was made by the management of the Chukotka trade company, will make it possible to deliver cargoes to villages on the Chukchee Peninsula and to launch construction work by early summer.

Previously, Chukotka did not receive the first ships from the Primorye (Maritime) territory before late May. The Chukchee autonomous area keeps receiving additional consignments. That is why the navigation season will now get underway in April, lasting until late October.

Greater freight traffic highlights a Chukchee economic recovery. It is intended to deliver much more petroleum, construction materials and heavy-duty equipment to Chukotka during this navigation season, press-center officials noted.