In October, the vessel of the Russian Geographical Society and the Krasnoyarsk Territory “Sibirskiy Issledovatel” (eng."Siberian Explorer") finished sailing for the current season. It was docked in one of the river ports of Krasnoyarsk for the winter. During the winter laying-up, which will last until May, preparations for the 2023 expeditions will take place.
“During this time, we will inspect the vessel, carry out the necessary maintenance. We will prepare for the next navigation, for which expeditions to the north of the Krasnoyarsk Territory have already been planned. As far as maintenance goes, there will be painstaking refinement, adjustment of units and systems, and retrofitting of the vessel with the necessary equipment," said Igor Spiridenko, chairman of the Krasnoyarsk Regional Branch of the Russian Geographical Society.
Also, according to him, it is necessary to provide fuel reserves for the next year along the planned route of the expedition. It will go to the north of the Krasnoyarsk Territory – to the Arctic zone of Taimyr.
“Over the winter we will form a research plan and determine the clients,” added Spiridenko.
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The 18-meter steel vessel of the river-sea class was built in Saratov in five years. It is equipped with high-quality technical equipment and modern navigation and communication systems. The “Sibirskiy Issledovatel” is suitable for conducting research directly on the water and for conducting expedition and training activities on land. The use of the vessel will significantly reduce the costs of helicopter work for the expeditions.
During the navigation period of 2022, the newest vessel made a test voyage along the Yenisei – to the north of the region and back to Krasnoyarsk. The distance covered was more than 1,000 km. Successful sea trials in real conditions were conducted by the Krasnoyarsk Regional Branch of the Russian Geographical Society, the scientists at Lomonosov Moscow State University, and the research institute "Environmental Industrial Policy Center". Subsequently, they will assess the state of the fragile ecosystems of the Arctic.
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It is assumed that from 2023, the “Sibirskiy Issledovatel”, under the flag of the RGS and the Krasnoyarsk Territory, will help implement projects for a comprehensive survey of the Arctic territory of the region necessary for the systematization of scientific knowledge, studying the waters of the Yenisei and its tributaries, as well as the coastline of the Kara Sea and the Laptev Sea. The expeditions plan to identify and preserve cultural monuments and ethnographic heritage, as well as monitor the environment.
In addition, the “Sibirskiy Issledovatel” will be used to develop new routes and water tourism in the Krasnoyarsk Territory, as well as to popularize the activities of the Russian Geographical Society and implement the educational project "Krasnoyarsk Territory through the Eyes of a Geographer".