Interesting read, though I have a question. Where exactly have you read that the North Wind wrecked in 1968??
I've checked wikipedia (cos I know 1C games are usually as realistic as they can be), and the first Arktica class nuclear icebreaker was launched in 1975.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arktika_class_icebreaker
So I think the North Wind would have been launched much more later than 1968. But then again, in the game is stated that the ship is quite old so you may be right
Everything (specially the ending) would make more sense if everything took place in 1981.