 Meanwhile, in the season of 1936, as many as 16 ships traversed the Northern Route.The season of 1937 was intended to be far more successful than past seasons in terms of the tonnage and number of ships making the Arctic passage; however, many of the ships attempting it were not fully suited to Arctic conditions.Two convoys, led by "Litke" and , as well as , scrambled to rescue them and were trapped in the ice themselves, off Khatanga Gulf, for the winter.