http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/tech/2007/jul/25/072502612.htmlMOSCOW (AP) - An ambitious Russian naval expedition that set off for the North Pole to explore the bottom of the Arctic Ocean and stake Moscow's claim to oil and natural gas riches under the seabed ground to a sudden halt Wednesday when a ship broke down.
The research ship Akademik Fyodorov suffered engine failure a day after it sailed from the northern port of Murmansk and was drifting in the Barents Sea about 60 nautical miles from the shore, state-run Rossiya television reported.
The Rossiya nuclear-powered icebreaker, which was leading the expedition, turned back to help and was expected to reach the stricken vessel Thursday.
"We are heading back to Akademik Fyodorov to give it technical assistance," expedition leader Russian lawmaker Artur Chilingarov, who is on board the icebreaker, said in televised remarks.
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