Petroleum exploitation companies operate a fleet of Ice Breaking Emergency Evacuation Vessels (IBEEV) on the Caspian Sea, to service the extensive oil fields there.

Every evacuee is issued a rebreather, for passing through anoxic environments, if the airtight evacuation capsules are compromised.

The vessels are insulated so passengers and crew can survive transiting through pools of burning oil.

Since the Caspian freezes during winter the vessels are designed to break up to 0.6 metres (2.0 ft) of ice.

The vessels were designed by AKAC Inc. and Robert Allan Limited, a firm of Canadian naval architects.