Marina Starovoitova Is World First Female Captain of Nuclear Icebreaker

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Rosatom, PUBLISHED 21.08.2025

On August 20, 2025, during the Era of Dreamers festive concert, which opened the jubilee events for the 80th anniversary of Russia's nuclear industry, an official ceremony was held to appoint the captain of the Yamal nuclear icebreaker.

For the first time in history, this position has been taken up by a woman, Marina Starovoitova. The Captain's badge was presented to Marina Starovoitova by Alexander Barinov, President Emeritus of the Murmansk Atomflot veteran organization.

"To be a captain is to carry on the nuclear fleet traditions, to cherish the crew and the icebreaker. That's where I see my biggest mission. I'll undertake it every day. And I very much hope that I will succeed and justify your trust and the trust of my colleagues," said Marina Starovoitova.

Marina Starovoitova, a graduate of Bryansk State University, was teaching Russian language and literature in the middle classes of a rural school when her acquaintances from the Arctic region told her that the Murmansk Shipping Company was recruiting women to join a ship's crew.

Marina graduated from the Admiral S.O. Makarov State Maritime Academy, specializing as a navigation engineer. By now, she has been working at sea for more than 20 years, six of them in the nuclear fleet. She rose through the ranks from a sailor to Senior Assistant Captain. She is a holder of a Certificate of Merit of Rosatom State Corporation, letter of gratitude of the Russian President and other professional awards.

Topics: Rosatom, Nuclear ships

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