VESSEL REVIEW | Sibirskiy Issledovatel – Arctic survey boat for Russian science body

The Russian Geographical Society (Russkoye Geografícheskoye Obshchestvo; RGO) has begun operating a recently acquired vessel to conduct marine surveys of the Russian Arctic, particularly in the waters of the Siberian territory of Krasnoyarsk Krai.

Appropriately named Sibirskiy Issledovatel ("Siberian Explorer"), the steel-hulled, river- and sea-capable research vessel was built for the RGO as an economical alternative to helicopters used for scientific expeditions. The newbuild boasts its own array of scientific equipment while also featuring transport space for sensor-fitted unmanned vehicles.

The 18-metre boat will be operated as part of a years-long campaign involving collection of scientific data and surveys of the Yenisei River and its tributaries as well as the coastline of the Kara Sea and the Laptev Sea. The RGO said these activities will aid in the identification and preservation of Krasnoyarsk's cultural monuments and ethnographic heritage as well as the conduct of environmental monitoring within the territory.

The boat will also be used to help in the development of new sailing and maritime tourism routes in this portion of Siberia.

Sibirskiy Issledovatel completed an initial trial voyage in 2022, covering approximately 1,000 kilometres as it transited the Yenisei from Krasnoyarsk to the town of Dudinka in the north of the region and back again. The vessel is undergoing final preparations before the start of the RGO's 2023 expedition sailing season, during which it will be fitted with additional research equipment.

Some of our readers have expressed disquiet at our publication of reviews and articles describing new vessels from Russia. We at Baird Maritime can understand and sympathise with those views. However, despite the behaviour of the country's leaders, we believe that the maritime world needs to learn of the latest developments in vessel design and construction there.

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