First Woman Appointed Captain of a Russian Nuclear Icebreaker

Marina Starovoytova has been appointed captain of the Russian nuclear icebreaker "Yamal," marking the first time a woman has become the captain of a nuclear icebreaker, reports RIA Novosti.

The appointment of Starovoytova as captain of the "Yamal" was announced during a solemn ceremony in Nizhny Novgorod dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the nuclear industry. Starovoytova began her maritime career on the "Soviet Union" nuclear icebreaker as a watch officer.

She then worked on commercial ships, studied, and returned to the nuclear icebreaker fleet with a chief mate's diploma. She was appointed chief mate of the "Yamal" nuclear icebreaker, and now, captain.