The Project 00903 ice-resistant self-propelled platform “Severny Polyus” (North Pole in Russian) built by Admiralty Shipyard in St. Petersburg has set sail for her maiden voyage, United Shipbuilding Corporation announced. Before the unique research vessel left for Murmansk, a flag raising ceremony was held in St. Petersburg.
The contract to build the platform was signed in April 2018. The keel was laid on April 10, 2019. The vessel was under the federal program for social and economic development of the Arctic Region of the Russian Federation.
The platform is designed as a fully-functional research center and is aimed for year-round missions in the Arctic Ocean to conduct geologic, acoustic, geophysical and oceanographic studies.
The vessel is capable of operating in ice conditions without the assistance of an icebreaker and can serve as a landing ground for heavy transport helicopters.
The 83.1 m LOA, 22.5 beam Arc8 platform has a speed of at least 10 knots and can accommodate 14 crew members and 34 researchers.
According to Denis Manturov, RF Minister of industry and trade, the life cycle of the platform is 30-35 years. The class notation is KM(*) Arc5[1] AUT1-C HELIDECK-F Special purpose ship (Russian Register of Shipping).