First season

“Far-Eastern floating university” expedition is going to explore the Arctic near the New Siberian Islands flying the flags of the Russian Geographical Society, The Federal Agency for Sea and Inland Water Transport (Rosmorrechflot) and admiral G.I. Nevelskoi’s Maritime State University.

Launching ceremony was opened by the first vice-president of the Russian Geographical Society Artur Nikolayevich Chilingarov. It was his initiative to bring the old research vessel back in operation.

“On the west we have already had “The Arctic Floating University”. But we realized that we have to work in all directions. Two years ago we developed a program, started to work with the sponsors and restored the vessel. Now it can sail in seas and oceans for at least for five years . And we are proud of the fact that the cabin of the vessel has “The Russian Geographical Society” written on it”, – said Artur Chilingarov in the opening speech.

Besides the completion of scientific tasks, the expedition will encourage the formation of scientific cadres that will work in the Arctic in the future.

Testing of new equipment for environmental safety monitoring of the Arctic is scheduled. Broad educational program of the expedition is designed to train the specialists on research and exploration of the Pacific Russia seas.

First joint research expedition of the Russian Geographical Society and Admiral G.I. Nevelskoi’s Maritime State University kicked off from Vladivostok on 23 of July. Mission of the expedition is to study the environment and climate change in the Arctic using state-of-the-art equipment including remotely operated submersible vehicle “Max-300”.

The scientists had planned to perform climatic and ecological monitoring of whole Northern Sea Route up to Novosibirsk Islands but were forced to finish it halfway because of the difficult ice situation. Despite bad weather conditions the scientists managed to perform atmosphere and water probing, ice reconnaissance using pilotless aircraft and three submersibles and thereby completing program of the expedition.

About 150 people took part in the expedition: cadets and staff of Admiral G.I. Nevelskoi’s Maritime State University, Far-eastern federal university (DVFU), institutes of Far-eastern and Siberian RAS branches, and Moscow State Academy of Water Transport.