#ARCTIC. #SIBERIA. THIS IS TAIMYR. “The research vessel Ivan Frolov is necessary for the smooth operation of Antarctic expeditions. Our country has five year-round stations and five seasonal bases on the continent. The current ship, which delivers polar explorers and cargo to Antarctica, is already becoming obsolete, and there is just a little time left to put a new one into operation”, said russian minister of Natural Resources and Ecology Alexander Kozlov.
It will be built by the Admiralty Shipyards in St. Petersburg, which have broad competencies and experience in such construction.
Now the developers are starting to design, which will take the whole year. All projects that are being implemented today by order of the Roshydromet federal meteorological organization, are unique and have no analogues in the world. According to experts, there are no projects similar to the Ivan Frolov vessel in other countries that are engaged in the Arctic and Antarctica study, and are not expected.
“The new Russian scientific flagship will remain in service for 30 or even 40 years – until the 2070s, which means it will become a participant in grandiose events related to Russian scientific projects and victories in the Arctic and Antarctic. The Poles are waiting for a new generation of researchers who will replace us”, says Alexander Makarov, director of the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute.
The vessel will comply with the class of the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping Arc7. Its length will be almost 165 meters, displacement – about 25 thousand tons, deadweight – about 9.2 thousand tons. Ivan Frolov is designed to comfortably accommodate 240 people, including 70 crew members and up to 170 scientists and crew members.
It will be possible to equip up to 20 laboratories on board to carry out research from the ocean floor to the stratosphere. There is also a helicopter complex for two helicopters of the Ka-32, Mi-8 and Mi-38 types, a helipad and a hangar, allowing to receive and service these aircraft models. It is planned that the ship will be built in 2028.
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Text: Denis Kozhevnikov, Photo: Nornickel Polar Transportation Branch press service and Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia press service
